Finance Minister and Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Ecowas Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has inaugurated the bank’s first regional representative office in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The newly opened office is expected to expand EBID’s operational footprint, increase visibility across the sub-region, enhance project monitoring, and strengthen collaboration with member states on development financing.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Forson hailed the milestone as the dawn of a more impactful era for the regional bank.
“Today’s inauguration is not an end, but a beginning,” he said. “It is the beginning of deeper engagement, faster implementation, and greater impact – a stronger EBID, closer to its Member States and better equipped to deliver on its mandate.”
Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister for Economic Planning and Development, Nialé Kaba, welcomed the initiative, noting that the decision to set up the first regional office in Abidjan underscores the country’s commitment to regional integration and shared economic progress.
She noted that EBID’s physical presence will strengthen cooperation and ensure development programmes are better aligned with the realities on the ground.
“It is great to know the bank is boosting its capacity to understand the realities of each country on the ground so that it can increase the impact of its programmes,” she said.
President of EBID, Dr. George Agyekum Donkor, reiterated the strategic importance of the new office, describing it as more than a symbolic expansion.
“This is not merely an administrative office but a platform for deeper cooperation,” he remarked. “It will serve as a bridge to link EBID’s resources and expertise with the countries involved. Our goal is to ensure every member state feels the presence and relevance of its regional bank.”
He pledged that the bank will continue to strengthen its partnerships and support member countries to drive sustainable economic transformation across the sub-region.
