By Audrey Lotechukwu
THUR, JULY 30 2020-theG&BJournal- The African Diplomatic Corps accredited to the United States Wednesday urged the US, the largest non-regional shareholder, and all other shareholders, to continue to strongly support the President of the Bank Dr Akinwumi Adesina and the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), ”especially at this period of global COVID-19 pandemic.’’
The Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps in the United States of America, Ambassador Serge Mombouli issued a statement Wednesday thanking the panel led by Mary Robinson for ‘’their excellent work’’ and congratulated Dr. Adesina, President of the AfDB Group. He also commended him for his ‘’visionary leadership and the outstanding development results.’’
Mombouli on behalf of the African Diplomatic Corps, called for the re-election of Dr. Adesina to be done in unison by acclamation.
‘’Dr. Adesina is the sole candidate and has received the full endorsement of the African Union,’’ he said.
The election of the President of the Bank is planned to take place on August 27. 2020.
According to Mombouli, the African Development Bank will continue to play a crucial role in bringing African economies back on the trajectory of growth and sustainable development.
Ambassador Serge Mombouli, further extended his appreciation to the Board of Directors, the Ethics Committee of the Boards of Directors, and the Bureau of the Board of Governors of the Bank for their courage and maturity in establishing an independent and transparent process which he says ”confirms the excellent governance of the Bank.’’
The Bureau of the Boards of Governors in their statement also on Wednesday highlighted the conclusion of the High-Level Panel regarding the Report of the Ethics Committee which concurred with the Committee in its findings in respect of all the allegations against the President and finds that they were properly considered and dismissed by the Committee.
It also noted the High-Level Panel’s conclusion regarding the submission of the President to the Ethics Committee which was found ‘’consistent with his innocence and to be persuasive,” and expressed their appreciation ‘’to all Governors for their support and patience during this process that was aimed at ensuring the integrity of the African Development Bank and its governance mechanisms.’’
The High-Level Panel comprising of Mrs. Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland (Chair), Justice Hassan B. Jallow, Chief Justice of the Gambia (Member) and Mr. Leonard F. McCarthy, President, LFMcCarthy & Associates (Member) was announced on 1 July 2020. The Panel was given a period of two to four weeks maximum to complete its work and submit a report to the Bureau.
The Panel submitted its report to Hon. Ms Niale Kaba, the Chairperson of the Bureau on 27 July 2020.
The Secretariat transmitted the report to all Governors the same day as directed by the Chairperson of the Bureau pursuant to the request of the Board of Governors during its virtual Extraordinary Session held on 27 July 2020.
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