Resolution 2019: Connecting Our Global Networks

For those of you who have followed AB2020 since its inception in 2015, it’s likely you’ll be familiar with our yearly ‘resolutions’.

Whilst the core of what we do remains the same (events, business missions, promoting investment and entrepreneurship in Africa), each year we like to set an underlying intention for the months ahead.

At the end of 2017, after realising how important it was for AB2020 to start leveraging the valuable international connections we’d been introduced to over the previous 12 months; our theme for 2018 was ‘Global Relationship Goals’.

Fittingly, last year kicked off in February coordinating a trip for 17 tech delegates on behalf of the High Commission of South Africa, UK. Then, in March we hosted our third Tech in Ghana Conference in London (below) which we extended to two days to incorporate the diaspora, to much success.

In April, we delivered event management services for the UK-Ghana Investment Summit, which included a business breakfast and dinner hosted by His Excellency, President Nana Akufo-Addo (below). We project-managed the Accra leg of the event six months later.

Our annual Ghana Business and Investment Mission, which took place in May, attracted visitors from cities as diverse as San Francisco and Madrid; and the following month we put together an innovative group of Africans to showcase the region’s technology potential alongside delegations from Israel, China, Europe, India and Latin America at the Global Ecosystems Summit (below).

The summer proved to be enlightening as in August we connected with the Japan External Trade Organisation who shared their knowledge, ideas and findings in relation to investment and the growth of Japanese companies throughout the continent.

In November, we ended the year with our fourth Tech in Ghana event held in Accra (below), which attracted local and international notables from the fintech and agritech industries; government agencies; and institutions such as Ashesi University and the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications who all took part in discussions, keynotes and showcases.

This particular event really brought home the power of the platform by creating a neutral space where all stakeholders could be heard, and in some cases meet in person for the first time with the aim of building a better future for the industry.

Now, after spending time nurturing relationships, understanding needs and identifying gaps in the system; AB2020’s theme for this year is ‘Connecting Our Global Networks’.

To truly make an impact and increase investment and business, we must first join the dots that will bring together our most valuable individuals and organisations.

This year, Tech in Ghana will for the first time be held as part of London Tech Week (10 to 14 June), resulting in a collaboration between AB2020, Africa Tech Summit, Global Ecosystems Summit, and Tech London Advocates Africa to develop an insightful, week-long itinerary of events focused on the continent.

Of course, we’ll be hosting our fourth annual Ghana Business and Investment Mission which will run for one week in October, and is for serious individuals who want support with market entry into the country.

For the first time, we’ll also be coordinating a Tech in Ghana Expedition (Accra) as part of the sixth conference this November.

In an attempt to convene the tech communities across anglophone and francophone Africa, we’re excited to join forces with the Afrobytes team based at Station F in Paris (below) who’ll give their network an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Ghana’s market and landscape.

Last year was spent building and nurturing our relationships with players from different countries and sectors; and subsequently we’ve built (and are continuing to build) a solid network.

This year, we plan to bring them closer together to provide meaningful opportunities for collaboration. We thrive on creating platforms to facilitate relationships, because once they’re built anything is possible.

All the while, we’ll continue to deliver our communications services, populate our social medial platforms, and of course keep you updated via our newsletters along the way.

Akosua Annobil
Founder, AB2020