The 2014 MasterCard African Cities Growth Index (ACGI): facts, figures and stakes.

As part of our global commitment, Connectikpeople.co soon Retinknow®, is seduced by the unmatched work progressively achieved in Africa by the MasterCard African Cities Growth Index (ACGI).

This index provides actionable insights into the opportunities for investment in Africa. This index launched in 2013, spans the continent’s economic outlook according to the inclusive urbanization of its cities. Sets of lagging (historical) and leading (forward-looking) indicators were used to rank the cities’ level of inclusive urbanisation, forecasting potential for inclusive growth. The 74 analysed cities were organised into three categories by population size: large (over one million), medium (between 500,000 and one million) and small (under 500,000). Once ranked, the cities fell into one of four bands describing their inclusive growth potential – high,

medium-high, medium-low or low.

According to the 2014 edition, Accra, the capital of Ghana, is the African city with the highest potential for inclusive growth. This is the second consecutive year that Accra has taken the top spot on the Index.

Connectikpeople.co soon Retinknow®, observes that, Accra was the top-ranked city overall and in the large city category. The only African city with high inclusive growth potential, Accra has legislation, policy and resources in place to increase and sustain economic inclusivity among its citizens. 

Casablanca (Morocco) and Freetown (Sierra Leone) are ranked second and third in the large city category, both with medium-high inclusive growth potential. According to the ACGI, this suggests that while cities in this ranking might not currently have the adequate structural foundations or governance for inclusivity, the necessary resources exist to address these issues in future. 

Tunis (Tunisia) is the top ranked medium city, followed by Libreville (Gabon) and Nouakchott (Mauritania), all three with medium-high inclusive growth potential.

The large and medium cities with the highest inclusive growth potential are located predominantly in North and West Africa, while the small cities with the highest rankings are located in Africa’s island states.