Ghana’s Minister of Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, has been appointed as the Returning Officer for the presidential elections of the African Development Bank (AfDB), which takes place today in Abidjan.
Ato Forson is expected to preside over the election process to usher in a new leader as Dr. Akinwumi Adesina’s tenure comes to an end in September, after serving the maximum two five-year terms.
There are five shortlisted candidates from various African countries vying to lead Africa’s biggest multilateral lender.
The Minister expressed joy at being entrusted with the role, describing it as a singular honour. He affirmed his commitment to overseeing a transparent and credible election, which will be supervised alongside the Secretary General, the General Counsel, and a dedicated technical team.
“As Returning Officer, my duty is to ensure a transparent, credible, and orderly election process in accordance with the Bank’s electoral rules. I will be working closely with the Secretary General, the General Counsel, and a technical team to safeguard the integrity of the vote,” Ato Forson stated.
The Steering Committee of the Board of Governors on the Election of the President of the African Development Bank, during its session held on February 11–12, shortlisted five candidates for the elections:
- Amadou Hott
- Samuel Munzele Maimbo
- Sidi Ould Tah
- Abass Mahamat Toli
- Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala
To be elected, a candidate must secure at least 50.01% of the votes from the 54 African member states of the Bank, as well as a majority vote from all 81 member countries, including non-African members.
Over the next decade, the AfDB will focus on boosting electricity access, increasing food production, fostering industrialization, promoting economic integration across the continent, and improving living standards.