Mo Ibrahim Foundation to hold high-level Annual Governance Weekend

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation will hold its flagship, high-level Annual Governance Weekend from the 20-22 November 2015 in Accra, Ghana.

The focus of the weekend will be the Leadership Ceremony on Friday 20 November and the Ibrahim Forum on Saturday 21 November. This year’s topic will focus on urban issues in Africa.

The planned schedule of activities includes:

Friday, 20 November – Leadership Ceremony honouring the 2014 Ibrahim Laureate, His Excellency President Hifikipunye Pohamba, former President of Namibia. (19:30 – 21:00 GMT)

Saturday, 21 November

Ibrahim Forum (09:00-17:30 GMT)

o   During the Forum, participants will be able to interact with Mo Ibrahim and other speakers by submitting questions through the live webcast platform.

Evening concert (19:00 GMT)

o   Live music concert featuring Angélique Kidjo, Youssou N’Dour, Sarkodie, Stonebwoy and DJ Mic Smith.

Sunday, 22 November – Live football match between the Ghana Dream Team and TP Mazembe (16:00 GMT)

Other Events: Friday, 20 November

In partnership with Mo Ibrahim Foundation, The Africa Report magazine will host an annual debate. The debate will gather leaders and decision makers from the continent, around the theme: “Is Democracy getting in the way of Development”. (14:00 – 18:00 GMT)

For more information or if you would like to attend the TAR Debates, media should contact Alison Kingsley-Hall: a.kingsley-hall@theafricareport.com

ONE will announce the 2015 ONE Africa Award, which recognises Africa-driven; Africa led advocacy efforts that have demonstrated success at community, national or regional level. It aims to recognise, reward, and advance the exceptional work of organisations, founded by Africans and based in Africa, dedicated to helping Africa achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

For more information, media should contact Carla Walker: carla.walker@one.org

Saturday, 21 November

TPG Satya will be hosting a dinner round table with African business leaders and entrepreneurs (by invitation only)

Monday-Tuesday, 23-24 November

The International Crisis Group will be hosting its Africa Retreat (by invitation only)

Local and international media are welcome to register and attend the Governance Weekend. To register please contact Sophie Masipa, masipa.s@moibrahimfoundation.org, or Morgane Legendre,  morgane.legendre@portland-communications.com.

All the events will also be available via live webcast, which details will be provided nearer the time.

We also encourage you to follow the live feed and discussions on Twitter using #MIFAccra, or simply following @Mo_IbrahimFdn.

Detailed schedule of events

Annual Governance Weekend: Friday-Sunday, 20-22 November 2015

Friday 20 November (19:30 – 21:00 GMT)

Ibrahim Leadership Ceremony - Accra International Conference Centre

This evening event celebrates excellence in African Leadership, honouring the 2014 Ibrahim laureate, His Excellency President Hifikipunye Pohamba. At the Leadership Ceremony, the President, Dr Ibrahim and others will address the state of African leadership.

The Foundation will provide live feed of this event across many African satellites.

There will also be a video news release of highlights which will be distributed on the Reuters Television World News Express Service.

Saturday 21 November

The Ibrahim Forum and evening concert (09:00-17:30 GMT)

Ibrahim Forum – Accra International Conference Centre

The Ibrahim Forum is an annual high-level discussion forum convened around one specific issue of critical importance to Africa that demands committed leadership and sound governance. The Forum convenes prominent African political and business leaders, representatives from civil society, multilateral and regional institutions as well as Africa’s major international partners to identify specific policy challenges and priorities for action. A detailed, data driven analysis of each Forum issue is compiled by the Foundation in advance as the basis for an informed and constructive debate.

This year’s topic will focus on urban issues in Africa. It will be a platform to identify key stakeholders and explore trends, issues and solutions that are crucial to unlocking the potential of Africa’s urban centres as engines of sustainable and equitable growth and development. In order to facilitate the discussion, this year’s Facts & Figures report will explore the specific scale and nature of urbanisation on the African continent. It will address the associated challenges and opportunities that require strong governance and leadership in order to secure sustainable progress and development. The report will take into consideration different regional contexts and experiences as examples of best practice.

Master of ceremonies: Zeinab Badawi, Presenter, World News Today; Chairperson of the Royal African Society.

List of speakers:

David Adjaye, Founder and Principle, Adjaye Associates

Liz Agbor-Tabi, Associate Director, City Relationships, 100 Resilient Cities

Paul Collier, Professor of Economics, Oxford University

Patricia de Lille, Mayor of Cape Town; Leader of Independent Democrats, South Africa

Babatunde Fashola, Former Governor of Lagos State, Nigeria

Ian Goldin, Professor of Globalisation and Development and Director, Oxford Martin School

Arancha Gonzalez, Executive Director, International Trade Centre

Donald Kaberuka, Former President, African Development Bank

Aisa Kirabo Kacyira, Deputy Executive Director and Assistant Secretary-General, UN-Habitat; former Mayor of Kigali (2006-2011)

Elsie Kanza, Senior Director, Africa, World Economic Forum

Moïse Katumbi, Governor of Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo

Carlos Lopes, Executive Secretary, UNECA

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Former Nigeria Finance Minister

Mokena Makeka, Director, Makeka Design Lab

Trevor Manuel, Deputy Chairman, Rothschild South Africa

James Mwangi, Global Managing Director, Dalberg

Kumi Naidoo, Executive Director, Greenpeace International

Edgar Pieterse, Director, African Centre for Cities; South African Research Chair in Urban Policy, University of Cape Town

Maria Ramos, Group Chief Executive Officer, ABSA Bank

Khalifa Sall, Mayor of Dakar, Senegal

Clare Short, Policy Advisory Forum Chair, Cities Alliance ; Chair of the Board, Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative

Henri-Bernard Solignac-Lecomte, Head of Unit, Europe, Middle East & Africa,  Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

Vera Songwe, Reginal Director of West & Central Africa, International Finance Corporation

Parks Tau, Mayor of Johannesburg

Mamadou Kwidjim Toure, Founder, Africa 2.0

Ngaire Woods, Dean, Blatvatnik School of Governance, Oxford

Evening Concert (19:00 GMT)

In the evening, there will be a live music concert featuring Angélique Kidjo, Youssou N’Dour, Sarkodie, Stonebwoy and DJ Mic Smith.

Sunday 22 November

Football Match (16:00 GMT)

The weekend will conclude with a football match between Ghana All Stars and TP Mazembe.