The Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has highlighted the strong financial and operational performance of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), despite a challenging global economic environment.
Speaking at the 24th Ordinary Session of the Board of Governors of EBID in Accra on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, Dr. Forson noted that the Bank demonstrated resilience and strategic clarity in navigating global economic pressures in 2025.
“The global economy in 2025 navigated a landscape marked by what some have termed the ‘Great Wedge’ — a profound divergence in growth dynamics,” he said, pointing to rising geopolitical tensions, trade volatility, and uneven growth as key challenges.
He explained that these global conditions created a complex operating environment for the region, including divergent inflationary pressures and fiscal vulnerabilities across member states.
Despite these headwinds, the Finance Minister said EBID delivered impressive results.
“In the face of these headwinds, EBID did not just weather the storm; we rose above it,” he stated.
“With resilience and strategic clarity, this Bank strengthened its role as a driver of regional development,” he added.
According to him, the Bank recorded significant financial growth, with its balance sheet expanding from $1.97 billion in 2024 to $2.39 billion by the end of 2025.
“Financially, the Bank delivered strong and sustained growth,” he noted.
Profitability also improved, rising from $8.55 million to $9.75 million, representing a 13.3 percent increase.
On the operational front, Dr. Forson described performance as even more compelling, with project approvals increasing by 50 percent and commitments surging by over 83 percent to $813.77 million.
“On the operational front, performance was even more compelling,” he said, adding that the growth was driven largely by investments in energy and transport infrastructure—key sectors for regional transformation.
The Bank also reinforced its catalytic role by mobilising significant funding to support development projects across the sub-region.
“The Bank also demonstrated its growing catalytic role. It mobilised over $510 million and €310 million, all of which were fully deployed into priority projects,” he stated.
Dr. Forson attributed the Bank’s performance to strong governance and effective oversight.
“The performance is a testament to the strong and effective oversight of this Board, as well as the dedication and professionalism of the Management and staff,” he said.
The EBID Board of Governors meeting is expected to review the Bank’s performance and take key decisions aimed at strengthening its role in driving economic growth and development across West Africa.
