Business and public sector leaders arriving in Ghana for the 5th African Business Leaders Forum have underlined the urgent need to define new solutions to the challenges created by widespread poverty on the continent. The three-day high profile event which takes place at the Accra International Conference Centre from October 17 to 19,2007 will open with a presidential debate aimed at finding ways that the private and public sectors can work together to 'Conquer Poverty for Good'. According to a recent UN report, "The most fundamental development challenge in Africa today is poverty reduction”. Africa is the poorest continent with 25 of the world's 30 poorest countries. The number of Sub-Saharan Africans that currently are living below the poverty line is today more than 180 million people and will in 2020 have exceeded 300 million people." Some of the confirmed high profile speakers include Dr. Aniebo Roberts, Special Adviser to the president of NEPAD, Mr. Chris Kirubi, chairman of Haco Industries, Kenya, Mr. Goodie Ibru, Chairman of NEPAD Business Group, Nigeria and Dr. Baffour Agyemang Duah, UN Consultant to Tanzania. Other international experts include Mrs. Irene Chingbue, Director General for Bureau for Public Enterprise, Nigeria, Bernad Esaue, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Namibia, Mr. Victor Asibodu, Executive Chairman of VIGO, and Mr. Tunde Lemo, Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria. The line up of more than 40 international and Ghanaian experts include, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, Executive Chairman and Co-founder of Databank Financial Services, Mrs. Margaret Mwanakatwe, Ms Joyce Aryee and Dr. Mensah Otabil. Others include, Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Akwasi Osei-Adjei, Foreign Affairs Minister, Capt. (Rtd) Prince Kofi Amoabeng, CEO of Unique Trust Financial Services and Mr. Robert Ahomkah-Lindsay, CEO of Ghana Investment Promotion Centre. An investment forum on Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa and three plenary sessions on the topics, 'Preparing for Tomorrow', 'Women in Leadership' and '2010 World Cup in Africa' will run alongside the main forum. A Gala Dinner, with an international fashion show as attraction, will be organised in honour of the participating African Head of States and business leaders to close day one of this landmark leadership event. A presidential golf and tour of Ghana’s historic castles and kingdoms will climax this year’s ABLF on October 19, 2007, the third and final day. This year’s ABLF themed ‘Leadership Through Partnership’ is the 5th since the event started in Johannesburg in 2003, and will serve as 'a platform for interaction with African and global leaders on techniques, values and challenges of leadership. The three day forum forms part of Ghana's 50th independence anniversary and is expected to build on the gains of four previous successful, gatherings held in South Africa. This year's event will focus mainly on assessing the post independence gains of Africa and define a future of prosperity for the continent. The ABLF, founded and organized by Business in Africa Magazine (founded in 1993), was first convened in 2003 to provide an additional interface for stakeholders in the public and private sectors to make viable contributions in addressing Africa's leadership challenges. In the past five years the ABLF has focused its programmes on transformational and new thinking dedicated to enhancing capacity and quality in Africa's leadership. Source: BF&T