By Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
Founder and President of the Africa Energy Technology Centre (AETC), Ms. Emelia Akumah, has called on industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators from more than 30 countries attending this year’s Africa Energy Technology Conference (AETC) to use the opportunity to harness ideas to help build the Africa they all envision.
Delivering a stirring keynote address, Ms. Akumah challenged delegates to move beyond dialogue toward “bankable reality”.
She emphasized that the AETC platform is not merely a meeting space but a strategic engine designed to catalyse investment and harmonise energy policies across the 54 African nations.
“We are gathered here today not merely as attendees, but as architects of a new African narrative,” the Founder and President of AETC stressed.
According to her, the theme for this year’s conference, “From Borders to Bridges: Driving Intra-African Trade & Development through Energy & Technology Services,” is a call to action, an urgent reminder that the barriers of yesterday must become the conduits of tomorrow.
Ms. Akumah reaffirmed that the success of the conference would be measured by the “implementation and inclusion” of the projects born within its walls, calling on delegates to ensure this remains the definitive vision for the summit’s legacy.
The event serves as a critical junction for deal room sessions, where project developers will meet directly with global financiers to unlock the capital needed for subsea exploration, green hydrogen, and regional power pools.
The 2026 AETC was officially opened yesterday at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra, marking a historic milestone in the continent’s quest for energy sovereignty.
The three-day summit has brought together over 1,500 industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators from more than 30 countries.
The conference was officially opened by the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, on behalf of H.E. President John Dramani Mahama, signalling high-level political commitment to the “Accra Reset” initiative for industrialisation.











