Amissah-Arthur off to Ivory Coast for AfDB 50th anniversary

Ghana's Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur leaves Accra today for Abidjan, Ivory Coast to participate in the 2015 Annual Meeting and Golden Jubilee celebrations of the African Development Bank (AfDB).

The meeting which will take place from May 25 to May 29, 2015 will attract more than 2,500 delegates including Heads of State, the Bank’s Governors, Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors of member countries.

Other participants would include representatives of multilateral development financial institutions, development agencies, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, civil society and the media.

The gathering will review the Bank’s 2014 operations and its 2015 portfolio, as well as Africa’s thematic concerns such as regional integration and trade, infrastructure, private sector development, job creation and good governance.

The meeting will also elect a new Bank President, one of the most important decisions for the institution and the continent, to replace the outgoing boss Dr. Donald Kaberuka.

Dr. Kaberuka, a national of Rwanda, was elected in July 2005, and commenced his first term on September 1, 2005. Following his re-election in May 2010, he commenced his last five-year term on September 1, 2010.

Candidates vying for the position are Messrs Akinwum Adesina, Sufian Ahmed, Jaloul Ayed, Kordje Bedoumra, Cristina Duarte, Samura Kamara, Thomas Sakala and Birama Sidibe.