A deputy minister of Trade and Industry on 22 November 2021, in Niamey, Niger, chaired the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) summit on startups.

Mr Michael Okyere Baafi, who is also the Member of Parliament for New Juaben South Constituency in the Eastern Region, represented sector minister Alan Kyerematen at the ECOWAS Commission's Summit on Industrialisation and Economic Diversification in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation.

At the meeting, the various ministers discussed and adopted the draft ECOWAS Small Medium Enterprises Charter 2021-2030 and the startups' Jury Report.

The deputy minister in his address noted that the summit creates the most opportune moment for regional and national governments to pursue all-inclusive and sustainable private sector-led industrial transformation policies focused on Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), as they make up the bulk of private sector firms, capable of changing the narrative of Africa’s industrialisation and economic diversification.

According to him, the summit delivered the opportunity for the African continent to provide high-level political support to drive a globally competitive Africa- Industrialisation programme through private and public partnership.