I inherited A broken economy … But I will fix it -Nana 

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says he inherited a fragile economy from his predecessor, but would work around the clock to stabilise the situation. Speaking at the 2017 Africa CEO Forum’s Presidential Panel discussion in Switzerland, President Akufo-Addo said his government would pay attention to agriculture and industries as a pragmatic measure to transform Ghana’s economyTouching on issues on the African Continent, Nana Addo lauded his predecessor, John Dramani Mahama, for the role he played to ensure the smooth transition of power in The Gambia.

Yahyah Jammeh, the former president, refused to hand over power to Mr. Adama Barrow, after he had lost the general elections in 2016. According to President Akufo-Addo, former President Jammeh was on his way to setting a bad example in Africa, if the African leaders had not intervened.  He said former President John Mahama played an important role in the mediation process and ought to be commended.

In answering a question about the involvement of women in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Liberian, President Sirleaf Johnson, said she had appointed a woman as her Foreign Affairs Minister, and that women would have a role to play in ECOWAS matters.

The President of Senegal, on his part, said the people of Gambia really voted for change, and was, therefore, taken aback when Mr. Jammeh changed his mind, after he had earlier conceded defeat.

Touching on the Senegalese economy, he said he did not inherit a huge deficit like Nana Akufo-Addo, and that the current growth is about 6%. He expressed optimism that their growth will soon hit 7%, because the right measures are in place. He called for the need for good governance, security, and stability in the sub-region.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Dewji, Group CEO of MeTL (Mohammed Entreprise Tanzania Limited), takes home the prestigious CEO of the Year award, and Anta Babacar Ngom Bathily of Sedima wins the award for Young CEO of the Year.

Mohammed Dewji beat off competition from business heavyweights across the continent to take home one of the biggest awards in Africa’s private sector at a gala dinner on the first day of the Africa CEO Forum.

Report from Maame Agyeiwaa Agyei, Geneva