The President of EBID Receives International Award
The President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), Dr. George Agyekum Donkor, received the “2022 Prix de la Fondation” (the highest award) at the prestigious Crans Montana Forum (CMF) on 18 November 2022, in Geneva, Switzerland. The award was presented by His Royal Highness Prince Guillaume Jean Joseph Marie, Prince of Luxembourg, during a special and colourful ceremony comprising a vast array of iconic diplomats, experts, political leaders, and individuals from several conceivable fields of endeavour.
The Crans Montana Forum (CMF) recognises individuals who have contributed significantly to democracy and social economic progress through their efforts at building a better world. This exceptional programme under the theme “Reinventing our world’s social, economic and security balance” deliberated extensively on the world’s unexpected challenges relating to the pandemic, war, financial and food crisis.
Dr. Donkor who was invited to this forum received this award alongside Reverend Jesse Jackson, America civil Rights, Political Activist and Baptist Pastor, who was represented by his daughter.
In the citation preceding the award, Ambassador Jean-Paul Carteron, Chairman, and founder of the Crans Montana Forum, described Dr. Donkor as a rare and exceptional leader whose innovation, pragmatism and decisive actions and policies have turned round the fortunes of the ECOWAS Bank within just two (2) years of taking over the leadership of the Bank. He indicated that the forum has followed with great inspiration and enthusiasm the level of resources EBID has mobilised over the last two (2) years on the regional and international markets for financing infrastructure projects with the ECOWAS region all in the effort of reducing poverty and improving the lives of the larger populations. Ambassador Carteron observed that “the ECOWAS region and the world are plagued with uncertainties, but the choice lies with the leaders and everyone to transform the systems for the benefit of the entire population”. He further indicated that the award was in recognition of Dr. Donkor’s exceptional leadership, devotion and commitment that have brought EBID to the fore of the international business community as evidenced in the Bank’s recent upgrade by Moody’s and Fitch rating despite the global economic downturn and at a time when sovereigns and other high-profile organisations were being downgraded.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Donkor expressed appreciation on behalf of EBID which he represents, and the entire ECOWAS community for the honour done to the entire ECOWAS region by this award. He expressed the hope that the economic crisis facing the world and the ECOWAS region in particular would be abated very soon in view of the proactive measures and the pragmatic initiatives being pursued by the ECOWAS Heads of State and the ECOWAS Commission.
On the side lines of the forum, Dr. Donkor held other meetings with strategic business partners and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Islamic Organisation for Food Security (IOFS). He urged the international business community and investors to consider Africa, and for that matter the ECOWAS region, as a destination for investment and wealth creation.
Present at the ceremony to show solidarity and support to Dr. Donkor were Ghana’s Ambassador to Switzerland, His Excellency Emmanuel Antwi; the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, the Rt. Honourable Mr. Sidie Mohammed Tunis; The Deputy Majority Leader of the Ghana’s Parliament, Honourable Alexander Afenyo-Markin and Mrs. Akosua Okyere Baidoo, Deputy Permanent Representative (DPR), Ghana Permanent Mission, Geneva.
The forum attracted high international dignitaries including the former President of the Czech Republic, Mr. Caclav Klaus; Director General of the United Nations Office in Geneva, Mrs. Tatiana Gomez; Ambassador to the United Nations in New York, Mr. Omar Hilale; European Union Special Representative for the Sahel, Mrs. Emanuela Del Re and Mrs. Martine Moise, Former First Lady of the Republic of Haiti.
Dr. Donkor was accompanied by a high- level delegation of the Bank.
