Mr. Joe Frans
Innovation & Diaspora Engagement Leader - Member of the Steering Committee
A Ghanaian-born Swedish politician, social activist, and entrepreneur, Joe Frans has built a distinguished career across politics, media, investment, and international development. Educated in Sweden, where he first arrived to pursue university studies, Frans quickly became active in politics and public service. He has served as Senior Political Advisor to the Deputy Mayor of Stockholm and Press Secretary to the Mayor of Stockholm, before entering national politics as a Member of the Swedish Parliament (Riksdagen) from 2002–2006, where he served on the Justice Committee and the European Union Committee.
Beyond politics, Joe Frans has held leadership roles in broadcasting and media, including as CEO of Sweden Now AB and Skandinavisk Video Teknik AB, both of which specialized in trading television broadcast rights. He also produced the TV program Sweden Today and has played a leading role in expanding African broadcasting networks in Ghana, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Frans has extensive board-level experience, having served on the Board of Stockholm University, the Swedish National Police Board, and the United Nations Human Rights Council Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent. He is also a co-founder of Sabuni & Partners, where he heads investment sourcing and deal flow, connecting African entrepreneurs with capital and mentorship. Currently, he is a member of the board of Sustainable Energy Solutions (SENS) South Africa and continues to play a pivotal role in African–European business linkages.
Recognized among Ghana’s 100 most famous people, Frans has leveraged his transnational influence to foster investment, innovation, and governance reform across Africa. He is also the founder of Next Generation Africa (NGA) and NGA Novum AB, enterprises dedicated to advancing sustainable development and entrepreneurship.
Within AFDEG, Joe Frans will chair the Dragon’s Den Innovation & Investment Track, a dynamic platform designed to bring African start-ups face-to-face with global investors, venture capitalists, and development financiers. This track will showcase cutting-edge African innovations, provide mentorship opportunities, and channel capital into transformative projects that align with AFDEG’s vision for inclusive digital growth.