The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, in collaboration with the Africa Academy of Management and the University of Texas Dallas, has held the 3rd Ann and Jack Graves Foundation Conference.
The conference, hosted on January 13, 2025, at the KNUST School of Business, was under the theme: "Sustainability as a Solution to Global Business Challenges: A Focus on Africa."
The Dean of the KNUST School of Business, Professor Ahmed Agyapong, underscored the university's research focus on sustainability and innovation. He highlighted the benefits of academia-industry collaboration in fostering sustainable development in Africa.
The Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Professor (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson, stated that the conference aligns perfectly with KNUST's mission to develop innovative solutions to global challenges while advancing the frontiers of knowledge.
"The theme resonates strongly with our strategic focus on sustainability as a cornerstone of our academic and development agenda," she added.
She further emphasized the urgent need to integrate sustainable practices into business and societal frameworks.
"As the continent with untapped potential and resources, Africa has the responsibility to lead the way in demonstrating how sustainability can drive economic growth, social equity, and environmental stewardship," she noted.
Former Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, Ghana, Henry Kwabena Kokofu, stressed the importance of sustainability in enhancing business resilience.
"As we leave here, may we resolve to act as catalysts for transformative change, using sustainability not as an option but as a viable route to building a resilient, equitable, and prosperous world through business entrepreneurship," he encouraged.
The conference featured a panel discussion on the theme: “Navigating Sustainability Reporting in the Extractive Sector: Challenges, Innovations, and Success Stories.”
The panel included Dr. Tony Aubyn (Centre for Gender Studies and Advocacy, Ghana), Frank Boateng (University of Mines and Technology, Ghana), Francis Eduku (Chartered Institute of Human Resource Management, Ghana), and Nana Appia Kyei (Kosmos Energy, Ghana).