The Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, had his first important meeting with Dr. George Agyekum Donkor, the President of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), in Accra, the capital of Ghana.
During their meeting, they talked about how well the bank is doing and how they can help countries in West Africa work better together. Dr. Donkor shared some exciting news about EBID. He explained that the bank has been doing much better lately, bouncing back from some tough times and now making good financial progress.
By the end of 2024, EBID had promised to invest $4.5 billion in different projects across the region. They are also trying to get better ratings from international credit agencies, which is like getting a good report card for how they handle money.
Dr. Forson also talked about the political situation in the region. He reminded everyone how important it is for the countries that left the ECOWAS group, called the AES (Alliance of Sahel States), to come back. He believes that having these countries return is essential for everyone in the region to work together and grow in a sustainable way.
Dr. Forson encouraged everyone to look up to President John Dramani Mahama, who is working hard to bring the AES countries back into the ECOWAS family. He praised President Mahama for showing strong leadership during this important time for West Africa.
This meeting is a sign that EBID's leaders are eager to work closely with all the countries in West Africa. They want to help everyone grow together and make the region a better place for everyone.