Commonwealth Secretary-General pays courtesy call on the President of EBID

The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) received Her Excellency Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations, for a courtesy visit to the Bank. The visit forms part of the Secretary-General’s West Africa mission to strengthen ties with Member States and key regional institutions and explore deeper collaboration on shared development priorities.

Welcoming the Secretary-General, the President of EBID and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr George Agyekum Donkor, congratulated her on her historic appointment as the first woman from Africa to assume the role. He expressed confidence that the Commonwealth would grow in relevance under her tenure and looked forward to enhanced partnerships. Dr Donkor highlighted the growing impact of the Bank across West Africa, particularly in infrastructure, energy, and social development.

In her remarks, the Secretary-General expressed appreciation for the warm reception and commended EBID for its notable performance in regional development. She underscored the importance of partnerships among countries, noting that, while they may not share the same history, they are united by common values and aspirations for progress.

She further outlined the Commonwealth’s evolving priorities, which focus on supporting youth empowerment through education and entrepreneurship and facilitating the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. These priorities, she noted, align closely with EBID’s strategic direction in fostering inclusive and sustainable growth.

Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration in areas of mutual interest, particularly in fostering inclusive economic growth, enhancing human capital, and addressing climate related challenges across the region.