Ken Ofori-Atta, Finance Minister
GOVERNMENT SAYS it is ready to host the 56th African Development Bank (AfDB) Annual General Meetings (AGM) in Accra next year.
Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, disclosed this recently after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between government and the bank on requirements for hosting the AGM in Ghana.
“I will like to mention that we have carefully reviewed this MoU and find it satisfactory. The signing is yet another indication of our strong commitments to delivering on all requirements for the hosting of the 2021 AGM,” Mr. Ofori-Atta stated.
An evaluation by a team from AfDB, conducted in April 2016, found Ghana to possess all the necessary facilities to host any high level event including the bank’s annual meeting.
A preparatory mission was hosted in Ghana from October 12 to 16, 2020 to further assess the country’s capacity and reliability in terms of the required facilities for hosting the bank’s annual meetings. Key institutions and offices the mission team met included Bank of Ghana, National Security, Ghana Tourism Authority, Motor Traffic and Transport Division (MTTD) and National Information and Technology Agency (NITA).
Others included Ministry of Communication, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Airport Company, 37 Military Hospital, Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge) and the Ghana Ambulance Service.
Mr. Ofori-Atta continued that government was in the process of inaugurating the Inter-Ministerial Committee made up of ministers of state, local organizing committee or coordinating committee and nine sub-committees on the thematic areas of the AGM requirements.
“I will like to express great appreciation to the bank for entrusting the hosting of the 56th Annual Meetings of the AfDB and 47th Annual Meetings of the ADF from May 24 to 28, 2021 in Accra, and reiterate our joy in this honour to host the event,” the Minister stated.
Secretary General of the AfDB Group, Prof. Vincent Nmehielle, who signed the MoU on behalf of the bank, commended President Akufo-Addo for his strong and continued support to the bank.
He stated that the selection of Ghana to host the meetings was informed by a report submitted to the Board of Governors following an evaluation mission to Ghana in April 2016.
“It is however heart-warming to learn that Ghana is working on preparations for Scenario A, namely the full-fledged Annual Meetings,” Prof. Nmehielle noted.