Ghana wins race for directorship of ADB

Ghana yesterday rode a storm of intense lobbying to scuttle a Liberian surge to secure the Executive Directorship of the enlarged board of the African Development Bank which has just concluded its meeting in Spain.

Ghana prevailed after vigorous horsetrading by the Liberian Group which roped in Sierra Leonean, Gambian and Sudanese interests fought off the Ghanaian surge which had Finance Minister Yaw Osafo Maafo leading a fierce arm-twisting lobby on Tuesday.


The Liberian campaign was diluted when it emerged that the Liberian had significant arrears in payment to the ADB funds and was also under international sanctions for its role in the regional conflict and the diamond trade.

In the end Osafo Maafo's team of all female stars from the Ministry of Finance won and one of them, Mrs. Effei Simpson secured the top position of Executive Director of the Board representing the region.


ADB is now made of 17 regionals after admission of large dose of non-African funds principally from Canada and other Western countries.