Championing ethical business in Africa

The 23rd annual Business Ethics Network of Africa (BEN-Africa) Conference, which was hosted by Ghana Communication Technology University in Accra from 7-8 November 2024, was a platform for leaders from business, government, non-profits, and academia to address the challenges and possibilities of ethical, inclusive business practices in Africa.

Globethics was proud to be an official partner and Gold Sponsor of the 2024 BEN-Africa Conference in Accra, Ghana. Two of our Regional Managers represented the organisation: Susan Ackah of the Western Africa Centre and Carike Noeth of the Southern Africa Centre.

Dr Noeth also took part in two pivotal panel discussions: Just Transition: What Should Just Transition Look Like in Africa (7 November) and Environmental Ethics and African Philosophies (8 November). These discussions are critical in aligning Africa's development with ethical business practices, particularly within the framework of the African Union's Agenda 2063, and the global SDGs. By engaging in these conversations, Globethics aims to raise awareness and promote a vision of sustainable development driven by Africa’s own aspirations for growth, governance, and unity.

The mission of the annual BEN-Africa Conference is to strengthen Africans' dedication and capability to conduct business with integrity and social responsibility, and the theme for this year was "Agenda 2063 and a sustainable Africa: The role of ethical businesses".

While African business reports often prioritise the UN's SDGs due to their global acceptance and corporate influence, the African Union’s Agenda 2063 - a vision for sustainable, people-driven growth in Africa - receives little attention. This year’s BEN-Africa Conference aimed to elevate Agenda 2063, bringing focus to its goals for prosperity, unity, governance, and ethical business across the continent. By highlighting these priorities, the conference seeked to inspire African organisations to align with an authentically African framework for sustainable development and integrity-driven growth.