African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina and Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio shake hands during bilateral discussions on the Bank’s support for the African country’s development West.
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast March 19, 2024 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/-A delegation of seven Executive Directors from the African Development Bank Group has arrived in Sierra Leone for a five-day consultative mission aimed at deepening the partnership between the Bank and the country located in West Africa.
Led by Ms. Mette Knudsen, Administrator of Denmark, the delegation includes Jonathan Nzayikorera of Rwanda, Rufus N. Darkortey of Liberia, Takaaki Nomoto of Japan, Martin Kipping of Germany, Nomfundo Ngwenya of South Africa and Samson Oyebode Oyetunde of Nigeria.
This mission is part of the Bank’s annual work program and underlines its determination to maintain strong engagement with its regional member countries, which includes Sierra Leone. Directors will meet with senior officials of the country, representatives of various government agencies, development partners, integrity agencies, representatives of the private sector, youth, women and civil society.
Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, Minister of Finance of Sierra Leone and Governor of the Bank, welcomed the delegation and said it demonstrated the country’s commitment to working with the Bank to foster regional economic growth, development and cooperation across Africa.
The African Development Bank has a long-standing partnership with Sierra Leone, one of its founding African countries. The Bank launched its first projects in Sierra Leone in 1966-1967 with an investment in the National Development Bank of Sierra Leone. Over the years, she has been instrumental in addressing the country’s challenges, including infrastructure deficits, strengthening governance, economic diversification and supporting climate-smart development.
Currently, the Bank’s portfolio in Sierra Leone is focused on improving access to quality infrastructure and rural electrification, strengthening the agricultural sector, promoting inclusive growth and creating jobs through the private sector, as well as supporting young people and women in their entrepreneurial initiatives.
Notable projects include the Three Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Project, which provided 550,000 people in Bo, Kenema and Makeni with access to safe drinking water and 46,851 students to have access to modern toilets. The Bank is also supporting the rehabilitation and upgrading of main roads in Sierra Leone under the Mano River Union Multinational Road Development and Transport Facilitation Program.
Rufus N. Darkortey, Director representing Sierra Leone at the Bank, is the host of this mission. His constituency also includes Gambia, Ghana and Sudan. Ms. Halima Hashi, Head of the Bank’s Country Office for Sierra Leone, will join the delegation in its discussions with key stakeholders.
Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) for the African Development Bank.
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Source : African Media Agency (AMA)