2024 Africa CEO Outlook Launch

On October 23, 2024, KPMG hosted the 2024 Africa CEO outlook forum. The event was held at Kempinski Hotel, with CEOs of various companies being present.

The Africa 2024 CEO Outlook Launch is the inaugural report which focuses on insights from over 130 CEOs across Southern, East, and West Africa. It examines how CEOs are adapting to global uncertainties by changing strategies, consolidating talent, and emphasizing collaboration and technology.

The event was in two sessions, the first being streamed from KPMG South Africa with a focus on:

1. People - Evolving workforce dynamics presented by Dr Candice Hartley

2. Geopolitics -Navigating global shifts in the boardroom presented by Stefano Moritsch

3. ESG - The future landscape of ESG strategies presented by Pieter Scholtz 

4. AI - Accelerating innovation and navigating generative AI presented by Martin Kimani.

The second session for the day was a panel discussion moderated by Emos Osei-Wusu Ansah, Associate Director of International Development Advisory Services. The session touched on the themes People and talent, geopolitics, AI and ESG.  The panelists were Dr Priscilla Twumasi Baffour, a senior lecturer at the University of Ghana, Abena Amoah, the Managing Director for The Ghana Stock Exchange, Mr. Kofi Adomakoh, the Managing Director of GCB PLC and Dr. Philip Oti Mensah, the Chief Operating Officer of OmniBSIC PLC.

During the panel discussion Dr Priscilla Twumasi Baffour said it is possible to build a sustainable economy no matter how difficult, she added that as a nation there is a need to add value to our products and build our industrial base.

Following her remarks, Abena Amoah further argued that development has to be sustainable, and this could be achieved when companies use sustainable strategies. She explained that the processes of investments and what gets invested changes naturally so we as a country need to learn to adapt.

Mr. Kofi Adomakoh while speaking on the effects of COVID in the workplace, advised that companies adopt a hybrid system of working from home and working from the office. He emphasized that the best form of learning was through daily interactions and that learning is key in our day to day activities.

The last panelist, Dr. Oti Mensah also shared that even though AI has developed greatly, in most African countries ,it is still only at its developing stage.

The session ended after a Q&A session with the attendees and closing remarks from the Anthony Sarpong, the Country Managing Director. In his remarks, he thanked all those who were present and spoke on his certainty that all those present were leaving the forum with clear actions on how to navigate the current economic environment and with steps to better prepare the organisations for the adoption of AI and ESG implementation.