The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) has officially appointed Ghana’s Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, as the new Chairman of its Board of Governors. The announcement was made during the Bank’s 23rd Ordinary Session, held on 14 April 2025 in Banjul, The Gambia.
Dr Forson assumes the role from Seedy Keita, The Gambia’s Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, who previously chaired the Board.
President and Chairman of EBID’s Board of Directors, Dr George Donkor, expressed confidence in the new Chairman’s capabilities, citing Dr Forson’s broad expertise in macroeconomics, fiscal policy, tax administration, and finance. A chartered accountant and seasoned tax practitioner, Dr Forson brings over twenty years of experience spanning both public and private sectors to the leadership of the regional financial institution.
Speaking on Dr Forson’s behalf, Ghana’s Deputy Finance Minister, Thomas Ampem, conveyed the new Chairman’s strong commitment to driving forward the Bank’s strategic objectives. He said Forson is committed to accelerating resource mobilisation, boosting capital recovery, and reinforcing EBID’s efforts to onboard non-regional members.
Ampem further stated that under Dr Forson’s leadership, EBID would strengthen its position as the premier development finance institution in West Africa, with a renewed focus on driving sustainable economic growth throughout the ECOWAS sub-region.
Over the past four decades, EBID has evolved into a fully-fledged development finance institution (DFI), playing a vital role in addressing infrastructural, social, and institutional challenges faced by ECOWAS Member States. Through its private and public sector financing windows, the Bank has strived to fulfil its vision of becoming “an effective instrument for poverty alleviation, wealth creation and job promotion for the well-being of the people of the sub-region”.
Operating in some of the world’s most fragile economies, EBID has consistently delivered solutions grounded in its accumulated knowledge and evidence-based approaches, aiming to overcome the complex socio-economic issues that confront West African nations.
Dr Forson’s appointment is viewed as a strategic move to bolster the Bank’s influence across the region, especially at a time when Member States are in urgent need of innovative financing models and stronger partnerships to support inclusive and sustainable development.