The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is set to host its 57th Annual General Meetings in Accra to deliberate on a continental-wide approach to stabilise Africa’s recovery from the twin crisis of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The meetings, which will be held from May 23rd to 27th, 2022, are the first in-person meetings in two years since the Covid-19 pandemic hit Africa.

The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, who made the announcement during a press conference in Accra on Thursday, May 12, 2022, said the meetings provide Africa with a platform where it can hold deliberations and advance African solutions to African problems, particularly as the continent seeks to recover from the blowbacks of the crises.

“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).

The Annual Meetings, under the theme; "Achieving Climate Resilience and a Just Energy Transition for Africa", provide Ghana with the opportunity to advance discussions on building resilience, addressing financing gaps, and narrowing its physical and digital infrastructural deficits in tandem with that of other African countries.

It will be attended by Ministers for Finance, Governors of Central Banks, Leaders of local and international Finance and Development Organizations, captains of industry, and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) from the 81 Member States of the AfDB; made up of 54 Regional and 27 non-regional member countries.

Schedule for AfDB Annual Meetings

i. Formal Opening, where H.E President Nana Akufo-Addo will deliver the Key Note Address and Closing Ceremonies (which will be web-streamed and Televised);

ii. Presidential Dialogue on "Africa: Development Challenges and Opportunities" (to be web-streamed and Televised);

iii. Four (4) statutory sitting of the Board of Governors (closed sessions); and

iv. Four (4) Knowledge events (open sessions) on:
a. Launch of the African Economic Outlook Report, 2022;

b. Building Resilient Digital Economies for Africa;

c. Africa Day Event (coinciding with the 50th Anniversary of the passing of Dr Kwame Nkrumah);

d. Climate Resilience and Africa's food systems;

e. Green Jobs for Youth and Women in Post-COVID Africa;

f. A Seminar on Special Drawing Rights (SDRs); and

g. A visit by the Spouses of the participating Governors to the Osu Children's Home.

According to the Minister, the meetings also allow Ghana to strengthen its partnership with the AfDB.

The country has benefitted from numerous project partnerships with the bank, including the construction of the Pokuase Interchange, the construction of the Terminal 3 of the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), construction of the Awoshie-Pokuase road, Fufulso-Sawla road and the Northern Corridor roads amongst hosts of projects in education, skill training, sanitation, and agriculture.

This Mr Ofori-Atta was confident that the high-level event in Accra will help convey the country’s collective appreciation to the AfDB as a long-standing strategic partner and lead to deliberations over potential new projects that will benefit the Ghanaian people.