Africa Prosperity Network Sues Sankofa Advisory Over $300,000 Debt From Africa Oil Week deal
The Africa Prosperity Network (APN), organisers of the Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD), has filed a lawsuit against Sankofa Advisory Group, owners of Africa Oil Week (AOW), seeking to recover US$300,000 for services rendered under a partnership agreement.
In a motion filed at the Commercial Division of the Accra High Court, APN stated that in 2024, Sankofa’s founder and CEO, Paul Sinclair, approached the organisation to leverage its credibility, networks, and expertise to facilitate the relocation of AOW from Cape Town to Accra.
According to APN, its established reputation for convening high-profile events attended by African Heads of State, senior ministers, diplomats, AfCFTA officials, and global leaders made it the ideal partner for Sankofa.
The two parties subsequently signed a 10-year Partnership Agreement in July 2024 to collaborate on delivering AOW and Africa Mining Week, with Sankofa expected to support APN’s flagship Africa Prosperity Dialogues.
APN claims that while Sankofa drew immense benefit from its standing and goodwill, it failed to fulfil reciprocal obligations under the agreement. At the APD 2025, which hosted more than 4,000 delegates from 46 countries, Sankofa was accorded visibility equivalent to a headline sponsor and used the event as a launch platform to announce AOW’s relocation to Accra.
The plaintiff also noted that it mobilised key relationships with the Presidency of Ghana, the AfCFTA Secretariat, and other institutions to secure official endorsements for the relocation.
APN is seeking the following reliefs:
Payment of US$300,000 representing the value of services and benefits conferred;
Interest on the amount at the prevailing commercial bank rate from May 2025 until full payment;
An account of all funds raised from sponsors introduced by APN;
Payment of 50% of sponsorship proceeds from sponsors introduced by APN;
General damages for breach of contract;
Costs including solicitor’s fees; and
Any further orders the court deems fit.
Meanwhile, the High Court has granted APN’s request to serve Sankofa Advisory outside Ghana. The service will be executed through DHL courier, with the defendant ordered to enter appearance within seven days of receipt.
The case is set to proceed to the next stage of hearings.
It will be recalled that in 2024, Sankofa, in partnership with APN, announced the relocation of Africa Oil Week 2025 from Cape Town to Accra, with APN Executive Chairman Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko highlighting the move as a major step in projecting Ghana as a commercial hub and strengthening West Africa’s role in the hydrocarbon sector.
