By Nana Achia Aboagye
A key highlight of the Africa Day Gala Dinner and Awards at the Invest in Africa 2026 Trade Expo and Business Summit was the formal recognition of outstanding contributors from both the public and private sectors who have demonstrated leadership, innovation and measurable impact in advancing Africa’s development agenda.
The awards celebrated individuals and institutions whose work aligns with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area and broader continental integration efforts, particularly in areas of trade facilitation, entrepreneurship development and economic transformation.
Public sector excellence awards
Government institutions and public-sector leaders were recognised for their role in:
- Advancing trade-enabling policies and regulatory reform.
- Supporting regional integration and cross-border cooperation.
- Strengthening economic diplomacy and investment promotion.
- Driving national strategies aligned with Africa’s industrialisation and diversification goals.
Speakers emphasised that effective governance and policy coordination remain essential to unlocking Africa’s full economic potential and ensuring that frameworks such as AfCFTA translate into real opportunities for citizens and businesses.
Private sector excellence awards
Entrepreneurs, business leaders and private institutions were honoured for their contributions to:
- Innovation in agriculture, renewable energy and digital solutions.
- Expansion of intra-African trade networks and export capacity.
- Job creation and youth empowerment initiatives.
- Overcoming financing and market-access challenges to scale African enterprises.
Their recognition underscored the central role of the private sector in driving sustainable growth and turning Africa’s economic potential into tangible outcomes.
Overall significance of the awards
Across both categories, recipients were commended for demonstrating resilience, leadership and commitment to Africa’s transformation agenda. The awards reinforced the summit’s central message that Africa’s progress depends on strong collaboration among governments, the private sector and development partners.
Speakers throughout the evening, including Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Namibia, Melody Chaurura, and Namibia’s Minister of International Relations and Trade, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, congratulated all award winners, noting that their achievements reflect the spirit of Ubuntu, innovation and shared prosperity.
Media excellence recognised: Bullet TV and Ghana Broadcasting Corporation honoured
A significant highlight of the Africa Day Gala Dinner and Awards was the recognition of leading media organisations for their contribution to African storytelling, economic reporting and development communication.
Among the honoured institutions were:
Bullet TV (Ghana)
Bullet TV was recognised for its growing influence in broadcasting impactful stories across Africa, particularly in economic development, youth entrepreneurship and continental integration.
The station was commended for its role in amplifying key conversations around AfCFTA, trade opportunities and youth participation in Africa’s economic transformation agenda. Its contribution to strengthening media visibility for continental initiatives was highlighted as instrumental in bridging information gaps between policymakers and the public.
Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC)
The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Ghana’s national public broadcaster, was also honoured for its longstanding commitment to public-service broadcasting and regional information dissemination.
The organisation was recognised for:
- Promoting development journalism.
- Supporting civic education and economic awareness.
- Amplifying African integration narratives through radio, television and digital platforms.
- Providing balanced coverage of governance, trade and development issues.
The recognition reaffirmed GBC’s role as one of West Africa’s leading public media institutions contributing to Africa’s development communication landscape.
