EBID President calls for stronger regional finance to build a more resilient, integrated, prosperous West Africa at RAF 2026

President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), Dr George Agyekum Donkor, has called for stronger regional development finance and greater 

mobilisation of public and private capital to accelerate West Africa’s transformation. 

Speaking at a High-Level Hard Talk session at the Rebranding Africa Forum (RAF) 2026 in Brussels, Dr Donkor presented his vision for “Building the West Africa of Tomorrow: Financing People, Prosperity and Regional Integration”, highlighting the need to turn the region’s economic potential into tangible development gains. 

He stressed that reliable energy, modern transport networks, digital infrastructure, industrialisation and investments in human capital are essential to building a prosperous West Africa. These priorities underpin EBID’s Growth, Resilience and Optimisation (GRO) Strategy 2026–2030, which focuses on strategic investments, sustainability and regional integration. 

Dr Donkor noted that limited long-term financing, risk perceptions and a shortage of bankable projects continue to constrain development. He highlighted EBID’s role in structuring viable projects, reducing investment risks and mobilising innovative financing to attract capital into high-impact opportunities. 

EBID has committed over $6 billion to more than 330 projects across its fifteen Member States, supporting infrastructure, energy, agriculture, industry, healthcare, education and financial services. The Bank also recognises investment in human capital and deeper regional integration as essential drivers of productivity, resilience 

and shared prosperity. 

“The West Africa of tomorrow will not be built through ambition alone. It will be built through strategic investments in people, infrastructure and regional integration. At EBID, we are committed to mobilising the capital, partnerships and innovative financing solutions needed to transform our region’s immense potential into shared prosperity,” Dr Donkor stated. 

He called on governments, development partners, institutional investors, and the private sector to strengthen collaboration to finance the region’s transformation, while reaffirming EBID’s commitment to advancing sustainable growth and regional integration across West Africa.