By Iddi Yire
Accra, Dec 31, GNA – The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) has won the Financial Institution of the Year Award – Africa category at the Africa Sustainability Awards.
Mr George Agyekum Donkor, EBID Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), received the award at Africa’s Biggest Cultural Nights on Monday night, December 30, in Accra from Madam Myriam Montrat, the Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana.
The CEO in his remarks dedicated the Award to the Board of Governors of EBID, the ECOWAS subregion’s Ministers of Finance, the Board of Directors, and the entire staff of the EBID, whose tenacity and hard work had earned them the high award.
The landmark achievement was awarded to EBID by the Advisory Board of the African Sustainability Awards in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The award recognizes EBID’s outstanding dedication to sustainable practices across Africa and its commitment in advancing Africa’s environmental, social, and economic progress in line with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
A visibly elated Mr Donkor speaking to the Ghana News Agency on the sidelines of the event, noted that the EBID was the regional financial institution and that it was the leading financial institution in all the 15 ECOWAS member countries.
He reiterated the Bank’s commitment to financing development projects and programmes across all the primary sectors of the economies of West Africa.
He said, “The Bank actually finances projects in agriculture, energy, mining, infrastructure, industry, services and so forth.”
The Bank has been committed to enhancing climate issues, financing climate and sustainable development projects. Because that is the order of the day.”
Mr Donkor said for them to be able to sustain their operations, it was important for them to pay attention to climate issues in accordance with SDG 13, which is to limit and adapt to climate change.
He said therefore, the Bank had committed itself to ensuring that climate issues were taken on board seriously; saying “for that reason, we have financed a number of climate related projects across all the countries of West Africa”.
“It is for this reason that this body has recognized our role as a leading institution committed to climate change and committed to sustainable development activities. And that is why they gave us an award.
Mr Donkor said the award was an affirmation of their commitment to climate issues in West Africa and of course Africa and the world.
He said the European Investment Bank (EIB) had been giving EBID one million euros to continue their engagement with climate-related and sustainable development projects in West Africa.
The African Sustainability Awards (ASA) is a platform that honours individuals, organisations, businesses, NGOs, and government bodies that demonstrate a high commitment to sustainable practices.
The award ceremony was heralded by performances by popular Ghanaian artistes such as Bessa Simons, Sherifa Gunu, Amandzeba, Adaha Band and Rocky Dawuni.
GNA