Extend support to member countries - Asantehene urges ECOWAS Bank

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has urged the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development to extend support to all 15-member countries to help them stay afloat amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said it was important for the bank to marshall resources to ensure that "our countries are adequately catered for to create jobs and reduce poverty".

The Otumfuo was speaking during a meeting with a delegation from the bank at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi where the new President of the bank, Dr George Agyekum Nana Donkor, was introduced.

Being a Ghanaian and a son of Asanteman, the Asantehene promised to organise a durbar to officially welcome and introduce Dr Donkor to the people.

Garden City Mall

 Mr Alex Bruks (hand raised), CEO, Retail and Reality, explaining a point to Dr George Agyekum Nana Donkor (3rd right), President, ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development, during the visit to the Garden City Mall in Kumasi. Picture: EMMANUEL BAAH

The delegation was also in Kumasi to apprise itself of development in the metropolis, including the Garden City Mall which the bank was a key financier.

The ECOWAS Bank and the GCB Bank have each invested $20 million towards the realisation of the project which had been stalled due to COVID-19.

The project, which is estimated at $130 million, is about 85 per cent completed and is scheduled for completion in April 2020.

It is being developed by Retail and Reality, managers of Accra Mall, in partnership with Garden City Mall, the Asanteman Traditional Council and the Methodist Church, Ghana.
 
Investments

Dr Donkor, who later interacted with journalists, said the bank had invested $2.9 billion on projects in the sub-region which included Kempisky and Marriott International hotels, both in Accra.

He said the bank had also undertaken expansion works for the Ghana National Fire Service and extended electricity to 114 communities in the Bono Region.