On Tuesday, 25th August 2020, the Honourable Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Mambury Njie, despite being in isolation for the treatment of Covid-19, chaired the virtual annual constituency meeting of the African Development Bank with Constituency Governors from Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Sudan. The meeting was meant to be held during the sideline of the Virtual Annual General Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the Bank Group in Abidjan, Cộte d’Ivoire. Among other things, the agenda was to review the minutes of the 2019 Constituency Meeting and to discuss the Constituency Annual Report of 2019.
As discussed in the meeting, the report covered the period from January – December 2019, during which the African Development Bank Group undertook a series of activities, particularly, those that impacted the Constituency member countries towards fostering its goal of developing Africa.
Another issue highlighted in the meeting was the summary of activities of the Constituency comprised within the wider context of the activities of the African Development Bank. The Governors also shaded more light on the policies and projects approved for the individual countries of the Constituency and the Bank in general as presented in the report.
The issue of late payments for the various General Capital Increase’s (GCI) subscriptions and arrears owed by some of the Constituency Member Countries as well as failure to pay for reallocated Shares for all Constituency member countries were addressed since they have been a matter of great concern to the AFDB office. The Governors also put emphasis on comments in the report that urges constituency member countries to remain relevant and perhaps move a step higher than their current penultimate position on voting rights. The appeal to Honourable Governors to give serious consideration and attention to ensure timely payments for GCI’s subscriptions as well as allocated Shares was stressed.
In conclusion, the meeting was adjourned to the 26th and 27th August, 2020 on the same virtual platform with other stakeholders of the African Development Bank Group.
Ebrima S. Jallow
Information Officer
7336236/5034521
esjallow247@gmail.com