Absa Group Once Again Sponsors BEN-Africa Conference On Business Ethics

Absa Group Once Again Sponsors BEN-Africa Conference On Business Ethics. Absa Group is proud to sponsor, for the second year, the Business Ethics Network (BEN) Africa Conference, taking place from 7-8 November in Accra, Ghana. This year’s edition of the BEN-Africa Conference takes place at Ghana Communications Technology University under the theme “Agenda 2063 and a sustainable Africa: the role of ethical businesses”.

The conference brings together organisations, leaders and other stakeholders from private, public and non-profit organisations who have a shared passion for ensuring ethical decision-making in all aspects of business practice in Africa. The conference will explore opportunities to leverage the commitment and competence of organisations and leaders in Africa to do business with moral integrity. There will be a specific focus on how ethical business practice can support the African Union-driven Agenda 2063.

According to Absa Group Chief Compliance Officer Akash Singh, Absa’s support for the conference is in line with its commitment to being an active force for good by promoting ethical business practice across Africa. “We recognise that in keeping with Agenda 2063, we believe in Africa’s agency to co-create ethics-based business practices across the continent as we aspire for the Africa we want,” he said.

“On a continent that is currently being ravaged by corruption – according to the African Union, Africa loses more than $140 billion to corruption – ethical businesses that operate in accordance with sound governance principles and integrity stand as one of the strongest weapons against this scourge and other illicit dealings that undermine Africa’s progress,” he added.

As a pan-African business that has presence in 12 markets across Africa, and more than 20 000 Third Party value chain partners, Absa promotes the creation of an enabling environment where businesses with integrity can grow and thrive even as they contribute to the economic growth of Africa. “It is for this reason that we are pleased to be associated with a platform that allows all those committed to the success of Africa to engage and reinforce the importance of business ethics as a foundation for sustainable value creation and growth,” Singh said.

President of the Business Ethics Network of Africa Dr Bryan Robinson said he was pleased to once again partner with Absa as they host what promises to be an insightful and impactful conference. “It is an honour to collaborate with Absa once again as we drive conversations about reinforcing the moral fabric of African communities and businesses, thus promoting moral integrity in all our business dealings in Africa. Once again, we are proud to be associated with Absa as we continue our journey to promote an environment of trust and integrity through dialogue,” he said.

The Conference will also include the Absa BEN-Africa Ethics Supplier Day on 6 November 2024; an event where small businesses will be given an opportunity to participate in the Ethically Aware Supplier Induction Programme. Developed by the Ethics Institute, the training programme aims to help SMEs make sense of the increasing ethical demands on their business and to ensure that they are ethically aware of issues such as bribery, anti-corruption, environmental and human rights practices. It also aims to give them the tools to promote ethics in their organisations.

According to Absa Group Chief Procurement Officer, Vusi Fele, the SME supplier day forms part of the Group’s commitment to ethical business practices and to being an active force for good in Africa by equipping its communities with the tools to operate with moral integrity.

“There is continued pressure on big businesses to ensure that they themselves, along with their suppliers, uphold sound governance principles. At Absa, we endeavour to collaborate with our suppliers to achieve high corporate governance standards,” Fele said. “This training programme will therefore enable us to support SMEs, whilst demonstrating our commitment to promoting ethically aware businesses that can contribute to building a sustainable economy in Africa, in keeping with Agenda 2063.”