UGBS Hosts AfriquEurope Conference on Sustainable Economic Development
The University of Ghana Business School hosted the AfriquEurope Conference on the EU and Africa’s Sustainable Economic Development from July 1st to 2nd, 2025, to discuss strategies for sustainable growth and stronger partnerships between Africa and Europe. AfriquEurope, coordinated by the University of Peloponnese, Greece, in collaboration with the Ghana Scholarly Society and the University of Ghana, and co-funded by the European Union (EU), took place at the Graduate School.
Prof. Elikplimi Agbloyor, Coordinator of the UGBS International Relations Unit, warmly welcomed the delegate and emphasised the country’s stability and vibrancy as a destination for learning and professional exchange. He provided an overview of UGBS accreditation and an extensive international portfolio anchored by its membership in the Global Network of Advanced Management (GNAM), where they engage in joint programmes and faculty exchanges with leading institutions such as Oxford University and Yale University.
He spoke about the school’s ongoing efforts to meet international quality benchmarks, including the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation and the Association of African Business Schools (AABS). He stated that UGBS is committed to hosting international students for customised programmes. He revealed that plans are underway to introduce executive-level programmes for C-suite participants, including a proposed Ghana–Australia Business Dialogue, which will convene top executives from both countries for knowledge-sharing and strategic engagement.
Delivering the welcome address on behalf of Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Justice Bawole, the Dean of UGBS, welcomed delegates and described the discussions on sustainable development, trade, and investment as timely and crucial. Prof. Bawole called on academics across Africa and Europe to move beyond the confines of research and become strong advocates using evidence and research to shape policy for sustainable development and social justice. “Academics have often avoided getting involved in difficult issues,” he said. “But given today’s global politics and development challenges, focusing only on research and grants could lead us into serious trouble.” He underscored the need for Africa to reduce its dependency on foreign aid to build strong, sustainable economic systems through trade and investment. “When Africa struggles, Europe feels the impact he said, referencing migration and economic challenges.
According to Prof. Jean-Marc Trouille, Director of the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, AfriquEurope is considered the largest AfriquEurope university network to bridge academic insight with real-world policy, fostering a culture of collaboration that transcends geography. He stated that AfriquEurope is a vital platform for unity, research, and policy development that sees Africa not as an afterthought but as a driving force in shaping shared futures. Speaking on global challenges, Prof. Trouille warned that meaningful public debate is increasingly being drowned out by noise on social media and urged academia to step forward as a force for accountability and innovation. “We must be like mosquitoes and sting corrupt systems, sting political apathy, and sting injustice. That is our duty as academics”, he said.
Giving the keynote address, H.E. Irchad Razaali, the European Union’s Ambassador to Ghana, outlined how the relationship has evolved beyond traditional development assistance to focus on investment, trade, migration, and security. H.E. Razaali traced the partnership back to the late 1950s, when the EU first launched policies to engage newly independent African countries. While Europe’s approach once focused primarily on aid, the emphasis has now shifted to stimulating economic growth and supporting job creation. “We have overcome the idea that Africa is a special continent defined only by poverty,” H.E. Razaali said.
Central to this approach is the Global Gateway, the EU’s flagship initiative launched in 2022. “Global Gateway is the vehicle through which the EU will stimulate economic diversification and development,” he explained. H.E. Razaali stated that through the European Peace Facility, the EU has supplied equipment and training to help African countries respond to regional threats. He noted a significant policy shift on migration, from a conversation focused only on irregular migration and returns, to investing around one billion euros in promoting legal migration pathways, scholarships, and mobility. H.E. Razaali emphasised that Europe’s engagement with Africa is rooted in mutual interests and shared priorities rather than charity.
Prof. Richard Nyuur, Co-chair of Ghana Scholarly Society, and Dr. Kweku Adams, President of Ghana Scholarly Society, presented on the Role of Research and Academia in Africa’s Regional Integration and Sustainable Economic Development. Prof. Nyuur said the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) could lift millions out of poverty and boost intra-African trade, but only if it's informed by research and implemented effectively. He also called out the lack of representation in research across Africa’s 54 countries, with most studies focused on just a few nations. Prof. Nyuur highlighted that structural and cultural barriers have slowed Africa’s progress. “We need to ensure that our frameworks are informed by insight, guided by knowledge, and driven by innovation,” he said.
Dr. Adams stated that Africa needs African-specific theories, data, and solutions that make sense for our context. He emphasised that academics should not shy away from collaborating with businesses and governments to tackle practical problems. “Our education system must do more than produce papers no one reads,” Dr. Adams said. “If we want sustainable economic growth, we must unite academia, policymakers, and practitioners. That is the only way we will change Africa’s story,” He noted that if conversations about Africa occur without Africans, we will never tell our own story. Dr. Adams called for more research on neglected topics such as informal cross-border trade, digital innovation, and sustainability within regional integration areas critical to Africa’s development but often overlooked by other researchers.
Speaking on creating an Environment for Equitable and Sustainable Development, H.E. Roeland van de Geer, Former Ambassador to South Africa, warned that without structural reforms and investment, Africa risks falling further behind despite strong growth prospects. “Closing the gap with the rest of the world will not happen automatically,” he said. “We need strategic investment, better governance, and policies that empower people.” H.E. van de Geer argued that implementing Agenda 2063 along with focused policies in sectors like agriculture, education, and governance could significantly raise incomes and reduce poverty.
H.E. van de Geer also highlighted that the continent is on the brink of a demographic and economic turning point. “For Africa to truly catch up in per capita income by 2043, it would need to grow by nearly 50% over the next 20 years,” he said. H.E. van de Geer mentioned that by 2050, Africa’s population will enter its demographic dividend, a phase where the working-age population will outnumber dependents. “This could be Africa’s golden opportunity,” the Ambassador explained. “While the rest of the world sees a shrinking workforce, Africa is expanding”. By 2075, about 67% of sub-Saharan Africa’s population is expected to be of working age, compared to 60% globally.