Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, will be speaking at the second edition of the Africa Political Parties Summit 2026 in Ethiopia.
The African Political Parties Summit (APPS) is the annual flagship political convening of the African Political Parties Initiative (APPI), bringing together heads of state, leaders of political parties, secretaries-general, parliamentarians, political thinkers, and strategic partners to shape the future of political leadership and party governance across Africa.
The Summit serves as the premier continental platform for structured inter-party dialogue, leadership development, reform consensus, and political system renewal.
Unlike traditional political events, APPS is not a one-off gathering, but part of a long-term institutional platform designed to deepen political accountability and democratic transformation.
The African Political Parties Summit (APPS) 2026, will take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from November 5 - 7 2026, under the theme “Governing for Growth: Political Parties as Architects of Africa’s Economic Future”.
The summit will be hosted by the Africa Governance Centre (AGC) in collaboration with the Ethiopian government under the patronage of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali.
Overview
This year’s edition comes off as the second of its kind after the inaugural 2025 summit in Accra, Ghana.
It is a high level, invitation only continental platform bringing together political party leaders, policymakers, governance institutions, civil society, academia, youth and women leaders, and private sector actors.
The summit focuses on how political parties can drive economic transformation, industrialization, regional integration, and sustainable development across Africa.
KEY OBJECTIVES
• Strengthen political leadership’s role in economic transformation.
• Promote accountable institutions and resilient economies.
• Advance development priorities aligned with African Union Agenda 2063.
• Build on the Accra Declaration (2025) and develop the Addis Ababa Declaration (2026).
FLAGSHIP PLATFORMS
Two major platforms will run alongside the summit:
• African Youth in Politics Forum (AYPF) – promoting youth participation in political leadership.
• Africa Women Political Leadership Summit (AWPLS) – advancing women’s representation and leadership in political systems.
PARTICIPATION
Registration is by invitation only, but interested individuals may submit a Registration of Interest form through the Africa Governance Centre portal. Participants must arrange their own travel and accommodation.
The 2026 summit represents a major continental dialogue on political leadership’s role in shaping Africa’s economic future.
ACCREDITATION
Participation is by formal invitation, with accreditation managed by the APPI Executive Secretariat. Delegates are nominated by their respective political parties or institutions.
SUMMIT OBJECTIVES
What the Summit sets out to achieve
1. Facilitate high-level dialogue between political parties, governments, and continental institutions on governance reform, democratic transitions, and party system development
2. Establish collective political commitments and joint declarations on national and continental priorities
3. Advance intra-party and inter-party reform agendas rooted in democratic principles, public trust, and developmental leadership
4. Promote inclusive political leadership through the integration of youth, women, and underrepresented voices in party systems.
5. Align political party platforms with continental frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Agenda 2063, and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM)
WHY APPS MATTER
Across Africa, political parties face a growing legitimacy crisis, weak internal governance, elite capture, fragmented ideologies, exclusionary leadership, and a disconnect from national development planning have undermined public trust in political institutions.
APPS responds to this challenge by creating a space for serious reflection, bold commitments, and strategic collaboration. It enables political actors to move beyond electoral competition and toward a shared continental vision for party-based governance reform.
STRUCTURE OF THE SUMMIT
Each annual APPS is built around a structured programme
1. Presidential and Party Leaders Panel
A strategic roundtable with sitting heads of state and party chairs to discuss political reform, transitions, and continental leadership.
2. Plenary Sessions and High-Level Panels
Thematic sessions covering intra-party democracy, policy capacity, inclusive leadership, party financing, governance innovations, and regional integration.
3. Breakout Sessions and Policy Clusters
Facilitated dialogues on key reform areas such as constitutional change, digital democracy, parliamentary reform, and leadership education.
4. Institutional Declarations and Communiqués
Collective commitments signed and endorsed by participating political parties and heads of delegation.
SPECIAL FORUMS
Events within the summit programme include;
• African Youth in Politics Forum (AYPF)
• Continental Taskforce on Political Engagement for AfCFTA (CTPE-AfCFTA) Consultations
• Political Education Roundtables
• Dialogue on Peaceful Transitions and Conflict Prevention crisis
SUMMIT OUTPUTS
Each edition delivers concrete outcomes
1. A formal Summit Declaration signed by participating parties
2. A series of Joint Commitments tracked through the APPI Implementation Framework
3. Media coverage and dissemination of summit proceedings across the continent
