dr Agyekum Donkor receives his award from Prince Jean of Luxembourg as Rt Hon Mohamed Tunis and Jean Paul Carteron look on
The President and Chairman of ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), Dr. George Agyekum Donkor was awarded the prestigious Prix de la Fondation by the Crans Montana Forum at a ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland on Friday.
The award went to Dr. Agyekum Donkor presented by HRH Prince Guillaume Jean Joseph Marie of Luxembourg and Crans Montana Founder and Chairman Jean Paul Carteron.
The Crans Montana Forum is a world-leading international body dedicated to collaboration between the public and private sectors. It has become an elegant meeting place for senior officials and top decision-makers from government and business, and the Prix de la Fondation is awarded in recognition of work accomplished and serves as a solemn encouragement.
At a cocktail at the Fairmont Hotel in Geneva prior to the presentation of the highest award, Dr. Donkor reflects the global economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
“The whole world is in economic turmoil as a result of two external shocks, the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. As a result of these challenges, food and energy prices have skyrocketed and economies around the world are suffering,” said the EBID President.
dr Agyekum Donkor said food and energy prices have risen enormously, which has impacted the global supply of raw materials, leading to price hikes in various jurisdictions, posing serious economic challenges. He noted that inflation is high, especially in countries with low inflation records like Japan. Japan used to fight deflation, but now it’s also fighting inflation, he said.
Later in a presentation at the Crans Montana Forum, Dr. Agyekum Donkor optimistically told the audience that ECOWAS Bank for International Development is more interested in the solutions than the challenges. He called for the need to change our orientation and reshape our value system if we are to rise above the economic circumstances in which we find ourselves.
“If there is no change on the inside, there can be no change on the outside,” advised the EBID President, “there is a need to reinvent foreign policy and diplomatic action based on the necessary and inevitable acceptance of the other.”
The award is a recognition of Dr. Donkor’s numerous contributions to the socio-economic development of the sub-region, spearheading strategic economic initiatives to create jobs and providing dynamic leadership to advocate for the creation of wealth for vulnerable populations. A lawyer by training and development banker, his illustrious career spanning almost three decades is a testament to people-centric leadership in a corporate environment.
dr Donkor is focused on implementing change to drive progress not only in the West African sub-region, but also to have a broader international impact through regional integration and engagement. Under his capable leadership, EBID has achieved several notable achievements, including balance sheet growth of 22% and a 158% oversubscription of its 2021 UEMOA bond, which closed within 24 hours, both a sign of increased investor confidence.
Within two years of taking office as President of the Bank, Dr. Donkor delivered an impressive operational and financial performance to the admiration of all stakeholders.
Present at the Crans Montana ceremony were Rt. Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis, Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Ghana’s Ambassador to Switzerland, Emmanuel Kwame Asiedu Antwi, and Deputy Majority Leader of the Ghanaian Parliament, Hon. Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, who also is a member of the ECOWAS Parliament.
The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) is a leading regional investment and development bank owned by the fifteen (15) ECOWAS Member States. Based in Lomé, Togo, the bank is committed to financing development projects and programs covering various initiatives from the infrastructure and basic services, rural development and environment, industry and social services sectors through its private and public sector windows. EBID intervenes through long, medium and short term loans, equity investments, lines of credit, refinancing, financial engineering and related services.
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