Sierra Leone’s President Dr. Julius Maada Bio today hosted Dr. George Agyekum Donkor, President of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), at State House.
Dr. Donkor lauded Sierra Leone’s economic progress, stating, “Your Excellency, all macroeconomic indicators have been doing well. A sign that your government is doing well. Congratulations.” The visit underscores a mutual commitment to strengthening regional investment collaboration.
EBID is the leading regional investment and development bank, wholly owned by the fifteen member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh introduced the EBID delegation, noting that their visit stemmed from an earlier engagement between Dr. Donkor and President Bio, during which an open invitation was extended.
In his address, Dr. Donkor formally congratulated President Bio on his recent appointment as Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority. “Your appointment is an endorsement of your leadership to deliver and the quality you have to lead the region at a time like this, when it is volatile. But we are sure that you are going to deliver,” he affirmed, assuring the Bank’s full support for President Bio’s success during his tenure at ECOWAS.
Dr. Donkor revealed that the EBID team has already held meetings with key government ministers, initiating discussions on pivotal sectors including roads, tourism, general infrastructure, and education. He added that further engagements with sector ministers are planned to identify tangible investment opportunities during their stay. The Bank President also appealed to President Bio, in his capacity as ECOWAS Chairman, to help EBID maintain its status as a non-political entity within the sub-region, which he stressed would enable it to expand its reach and undertake more development projects.
Welcoming Dr. Donkor and his team to Freetown, President Bio thanked the EBID President for honoring a promise made during their engagement at a recent ECOWAS Summit, where President Bio personally requested the visit to deepen the Bank’s ties with Sierra Leone.
President Bio expressed his hope that EBID’s visit would lead to engagements across various sectors, identifying outstanding issues within the Bank’s scope. He voiced his strong concern for regional economic integration, emphasizing West Africa’s vast potential that needs to be both developed and leveraged for the future. Reaffirming Sierra Leone’s commitment to deepening its relationship with EBID, President Bio highlighted the University of Kono as a top priority requiring urgent attention. He further clarified his government’s vision for infrastructure, stating, “We want to look at both physical and digital infrastructure, as well as that of our ecotourism.”
SOURCE: ABJ/APA