A Group picture of some participants
The fifth edition of the Yale Model African Union (YMAU) has concluded in Accra, drawing more than 300 delegates, policymakers, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs from across Africa and the diaspora for three days of high-level dialogue, innovation, and collaboration.
Held from March 13 to 15, 2026, under the theme “Imagine, Challenge & Build the Africa We Want,” the conference marked a significant milestone in promoting youth leadership and policy engagement on the continent over the past five years.
This year’s programme featured a range of activities, including African Union committee simulations, leadership workshops, the Mandate-to-Market Innovation Pitch Contest, and a University and Career Fair, all designed to equip participants with practical skills and networks.
A major highlight of the conference was a panel discussion titled “Designing the Future: Creativity at the Intersection of Policy and Enterprise,” which examined how innovation, effective policymaking, and private sector leadership can converge to drive sustainable development and economic transformation.
Among the speakers was Dennis Sampong, Country Director of Fludor Ghana, a subsidiary of TGI Group.
Drawing on his experience in Ghana’s agricultural sector, he stressed the urgent need to integrate young people into the cocoa value chain while strengthening private sector participation in policy development.
“The future of Africa is the youth. In Ghana, more than 60 percent of the population is under 35. Whatever we do today will shape their future,” he said, urging greater local ownership of Africa’s development agenda.
Mr. Sampong also highlighted structural challenges within Ghana’s cocoa sector, noting that the average farmer is between 55 and 60 years old.
He called for deliberate efforts to attract younger generations into agriculture through the adoption of modern technologies and innovative farming methods.
He joined Audrey S-Darko, Chief Executive Officer of Sabon Sake; Jide Pratt, Country Pilot Manager at TradeGrid; and moderator Ericka K. Tenta of the Yale Africa Startup Review for the panel.
The panel underscored the importance of collaboration among policymakers, entrepreneurs, and private sector actors in translating policy ideas into scalable solutions.
The conference also featured keynote addresses from Tara Squire, Executive Director for Consumer Banking at Ecobank Ghana, and Ambassador Kabral Blay-Amihere, Vice President of the Council on Foreign Affairs-Ghana. Other notable speakers included Minister for Youth Development and Engagement, George Opare Addo; Rwanda’s Ambassador Rosemary Mbabazi; and Dr Festus Kofi Aubyn of WANEP.