The United Kingdom and the Republic of Ghana have co-hosted the African Development Fund 17th Replenishment (ADF-17) Pledging Conference in London, rallying global development partners to mobilize resources for Africa’s most vulnerable economies.
The high-level conference, held at the headquarters of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, underscored the shared commitment of Ghana and the UK to advancing sustainable development, resilience, and inclusive growth across the continent .
Ghana’s co-hosting role reflects renewed international confidence in the country’s economic turnaround and reform momentum.
After a period of macroeconomic stress, Ghana has restored fiscal discipline and re-established credibility with multilateral partners.
Senior global financial leaders attended the conference, including Ludovic Ngatsé, Chairperson of the Boards of Governors of the African Development Bank and Republic of Congo’s Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Integration, as well as the Presidents of the Islamic Development Bank Group, the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, and the OPEC Fund for International Development .
Speaking at the event, Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Finance, Hon. Thomas Nyarko Ampem MP, said Ghana was proud to co-host the conference and to champion Africa’s voice in shaping development priorities.
“Ghana is proud to have co-hosted this important conference and to champion Africa’s voice in shaping development priorities. Earlier this year, Ghana joined four other countries in pledging US$16 million to the ADF, the first time all five countries in our constituency contributed. This demonstrates our commitment to reforms and partnerships that deliver tangible results for our people,” he said .
UK Minister for Development, Jenny Chapman, said the United Kingdom was pleased to co-host the replenishment alongside Ghana, highlighting a long-standing partnership with the African Development Bank and a shared focus on sustainable and inclusive growth.
“The UK is proud to co-host the 17th replenishment of the African Development Fund alongside the Republic of Ghana. We have a long-standing partnership with the African Development Bank and support it in driving sustainable and inclusive growth on the continent – for the benefit of the UK and our African partners,” she said .
She added that the UK’s evolving approach to Africa—shifting from donor to investor—aligns with countries pursuing reforms to grow their economies and reduce long-term dependence on aid.
“The UK’s shifting role – from donor to investor – will support countries who want to grow their economies and ultimately exit the need for aid,” the Minister noted .
In May 2025, Ghana pledged US$5 million to the African Development Fund alongside The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Sudan, marking a historic increase in African participation. Each of these countries has pursued fiscal and governance reforms aligned with the Bank’s emphasis on performance and co-financing .
ADF-supported investments in Ghana have backed women-led micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises and expanded access to energy through mini-grid solutions, reinforcing inclusive growth and energy security.
The replenishment is expected to see a significant increase in African participation, signalling deeper African ownership of the continent’s development agenda.
Ghana’s co-hosting role also reflects President John Dramani Mahama’s Reset Agenda, which positions Accra as a hub for global development dialogue and advocates for fairer, country-led development models and reforms to the global financial system .
