Kandeh Yumkella And Ex-President Koroma Lead Call for Energy Reform and Unity at Inaugural African Summit

Prominent Sierra Leonean figures Hon. Alhaji Dr. Kandeh K. Yumkella and former President Ernest Bai Koroma took center stage at the inaugural 2025 African Summit in Accra, advocating for immediate energy transitions and deeper continental integration.

Held at the Kempinski Hotel under the theme “Building a New United Africa,” the summit was organized by the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), the Government of Ghana, and the Center for Strategic African Development (CENSADEV). The event brought together Heads of State, policymakers, business leaders, and civil society actors to forge a new roadmap for the continent’s future.

Dr. Yumkella, serving as one of four keynote speakers, delivered an address focused on the “Energy Transition Imperative.” He argued that sustainable power is critical for the continent’sdevelopment.

“I spoke passionately… underscoring the urgency of clean, reliable, and inclusive energy as a foundation for Africa’s economic transformation and climate resilience,” Yumkella stated regarding his address. He described the issue as a cause he has championed for decades.

Former President Ernest Bai Koroma also addressed the assembly, joining Yumkella in calls for a revitalized Africa. He urged African leaders and citizens to move beyond symbolic commitments and adopt a practical, implementation-driven approach to continental unity.

Speaking to a diverse audience of policymakers, academics, and civil society representatives, Koroma framed African unity as a deliberate choice rather than an abstract ideal. He argued that the continent’s continued fragmentation carries tangible economic and political costs, particularly at a time when global actors increasingly engage Africa as a single strategic bloc.

“The world already engages Africa as one continent,” Koroma said. “Our weakness is that we continue to negotiate as many.”

According to organizers, the summit was convened to move beyond ceremonial discussions and lay the groundwork for actionable partnerships. Key topics included economic diversification, digital transformation, and youth empowerment, all aimed at aligning with the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

The delegates emphasized that for Africa to thrive, it must prioritize regional cooperation and intra-African trade, moving toward a model of “interdependence and global connectivity.”