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Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has been elected Chairman of the Board of Governors of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), marking a significant milestone in Ghana’s regional economic leadership.
The announcement came during the 23rd Annual General Meeting of the Board of Governors, held in Banjul, Gambia. Although Dr. Forson was unable to attend in person, his message of gratitude and vision for EBID’s future was delivered by Deputy Minister for Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem.
Ampem conveyed Dr. Forson’s deep appreciation for the trust placed in him and Ghana, stating that the Finance Minister was humbled by the honour and committed to driving EBID’s mission forward.
“To my fellow Governors, thank you for the trust you have placed in Ghana’s leadership. I will continue to rely on your support and collaboration in the year ahead,” Dr. Forson said in his address.
Dr. Forson laid out a bold four-point strategic vision for EBID:
1. Strengthening resource mobilization to better finance regional development.
2. Improving capital recovery through efficient asset management.
3. Facilitating non-regional membership to expand investment partnerships.
4. Positioning EBID as West Africa’s leading development finance institution.
He highlighted the opportunities for transformation amid the region’s challenges and called for unified action to build a prosperous and integrated West Africa. He also praised Dr. George Agyekum Donkor, President of EBID, and his team for advancing the institution’s agenda.
Outgoing Chairman Hon. Seedy Keita thanked his colleagues for their support during his tenure and pledged full cooperation with Dr. Forson, expressing confidence in the new leadership to elevate EBID’s impact.
EBID, headquartered in Lomé, Togo, plays a vital role in regional integration and economic development across ECOWAS’ 15 member states. Originally established in 1975 and transformed into a unified development finance institution in 1999, the bank has since committed approximately $408 million to Ghana, supporting 24 projects in finance, energy, and infrastructure.
