Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has disclosed that Ghana will be hosting this year’s edition of the Africa Development Bank (AfDB) Group’s Annual General Meeting.
The 57th edition and the 48th Annual Meeting of the Africa Development Fund themed, “Achieving Climate Resilience and a Just Energy Transition for Africa,” will be the first time the country hosts the event since its inception in August 1963.
He said, “This is the first time Ghana will be hosting this event (in-person) in our history after we signed on as a founding member state on 14th August 1963, in Khartoum, Sudan and attended the Bank’s inaugural Board Meeting in November 1964 in Lagos, Nigeria. Indeed, we had a Ghanaian, Dr Kwame Donkoh Fordjour Kantinka, as the President of this Bank between May 1976 and July 1979. These facts together with our championing role in setting up what has become Africa’s premier Bank, suggest that hosting this event now seems long overdue. As is often said, however, it is better late than never, especially now that the continent is charting a new path towards building forward better. We have the opportunity to host the Annual Meetings of the two main entities that make up the AfDB (that is, the ADB and ADF). Typically, about 3,500 participants attend the AGM. This month, we will host about 1,000 delegates for the 57th African Development Bank (ADB) and 48th African Development Fund (ADF) annual meetings.”
The Sector Minister reiterated that the event constitutes an integral part to recovering from the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing economic crisis through partnerships. In his view, the gathering of African leaders comes in handy considering the current state of the world at large.
He assured that Ghana is well positioned and ready to host the inaugural physical meeting since 2019. Hence, “As the privileged host of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement Secretariat, we are also providing the opportunity to advance the cause of economic integration in response to some of these challenges during the Annual Meetings. Indeed, on the sidelines of this meeting, we will also have thirty (30) indigenous industrialists and five (5) FINTECHs showcase their services and products.”
The 2022 Annual Meeting of the African Development Bank Group scheduled for 23rd – 27th May 2022 will be held at the Accra International Conference Centre.
