By Juliet ETEFE
The 8th Ghana CEO Summit is poised to address the most pressing challenges and opportunities in the face of the evolving business landscape.
With a keen focus on economic diversification and artificial intelligence transformation, this year’s summit aims to highlight the imperative for resilience, innovation, and collaborative efforts in driving sustainable growth.
The CEO of Ghana CEO Network, organisers of the summit, Ernest De-Graft Egyir, revealed these at the press conference in Accra noting that the 8th edition is set to take place on May 27, 2024, at the Kempinski Hotel on the theme “Reigniting Business and Economic Growth: Charting a Path Forward”.
Mr. De-Graft Egyir emphasised the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) across various industries and the necessity of ensuring its benefits are inclusive while navigating regulatory and ethical considerations.
To this end, he said the summit’s agenda will also explore the intersection of AI with other emerging technologies such as 5/6G, quantum computing, and biotechnology, highlighting the need for forward-thinking approaches to harness technological advancements fully.
Other highlights will include CEO-led plenary sessions exploring transformative topics like transforming businesses into African multinational companies and revitalising state-owned enterprises through economic diversification and AI transformation.
Also, discussants will delve into the impact of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on manufacturing and the role of CEOs in navigating this evolving landscape.
The summit will also feature the CEO Excellence Award-Honors component, celebrating exemplary achievements of CEOs and businesses contributing to Ghana’s economic landscape.
At the press conference, the Country Managing Partner at Deloitte Ghana, Daniel Kwadwo Owusu noted that as a knowledge Partner, his outfit will collaborate with industry leaders and policymakers to foster a robust, inclusive, and sustainable future in line with the summit objectives.
“Our expertise will be instrumental in advancing the summit’s theme, especially in areas like economic diversification and artificial intelligence transformation.
“The summit could not have come at a better time, as we strive to build hope and confidence in Ghana’s economy. Despite positive growth projections, achieving long-term macroeconomic stability remains paramount,” he said.
Country Senior Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Vish Ashiagbor, added that his outfit’s latest survey identified CEOs’ optimism about the economy but also concerns about the viability of current business models, due to the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and climate change.
However, he said generative AI, presents both opportunities and threats, requiring close collaboration between businesses and policymakers to harness its benefits while mitigating risks.
He added that the increasing impact of climate change on business operations also underscores the need for adaptive business models.
For his part, the CEO of Margins Group, Moses Baiden Jnr, reiterated given the rapidly changing world, it is crucial to highlight the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) as a catalyst for economic and technical progress.
He noted that unlike previous revolutions driven by human analysis, AI enables machines to process vast amounts of data and make data-driven decisions far beyond human capabilities, hence presents both opportunities and risks, it can enhance economic expansion and technical advancements while posing cybersecurity threats.
Meanwhile, he is confident that Ghana and at large Africa stands to benefit significantly from embracing AI within a secure and regulated environment.
CEO of Eris Properties, Enoch Entsua-Mensah commended the organisers of the summit, saying the theme is appropriate for the times.
He urged that amidst the current economic challenges, including high debt, soaring interest rates, and investor apprehension, there lies an opportune moment to reassess the property investment sector’s potential and also the need for a paradigm shift towards prioritising local investments.
Executive Chairman of JL Properties Group, Dr. James Orleans-Lindsay also expressed optimism about this year’s summit urging fellow CEOs to get involved in the discourse to better position and improve their businesses due to the evolving landscape.
