Banjul: The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) has appointed Dr Cassiel Forson as the new Chairman. The appointment was made during the bank’s 23rd Ordinary Session held in Banjul, The Gambia. Forson, currently serving as the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Ghana, replaces Seedy Keita, the Gambia’s Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr George Donkor, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of EBID, expressed confidence in Forson’s ability to lead the bank towards achieving its objectives in strategic growth, efficiency, and regional impact. Donkor highlighted Forson’s expertise in macroeconomics, fiscal and tax policy administration, finance, and business management. Forson is an experienced tax practitioner and chartered accountant with over 20 years of experience in the public and private sectors.
In his remarks, Thomas Ampem, Deputy Minister for Finance of the Republic of Ghana, representing Forson, reiterated the commitment of the new Chairman to help the Bank achieve its objectives. Ampem emphasised that the new Chairman would focus on ensuring progress in building on existing achievements, especially in resource mobilisation and capital recovery.
Ampem also pledged support for bringing on board non-regional members and establishing EBID as the leading Development Finance Institution in West Africa. EBID is the development finance institution of the Economic Community of West African States, comprising 15 Member States. Based in Lom©, Togolese Republic, the bank is committed to financing developmental projects and programmes covering initiatives from infrastructure and basic amenities, rural development and environment, industry, and social services sectors, through its private and public sector windows.