News:
December 6, 2025
In presenting the 2025 annual Community report to the Community Parliament by the President of the Commission Dr. Omar Alieu Touray revealed that the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development is facing a major challenge following the withdrawal of the Alliance for the Sahel States (AES Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger) from the sub-regional bloc.
According to him with USD 280 million in exposure to these countries as of June 2025, this development presents risks of income loss, credit ratings downgrade due to higher non-performing loans, and legal or institutional complications.
Equally, halting ongoing AES projects, valued at over USD 230 million, would endanger EBID’s financial stability, investment reputation, and regional impact, while exacerbating infrastructure gaps, poverty, and security concerns across ECOWAS.
And within the framework of EBID’s commitment to the ECOWAS Vision 2050 and its expanding role in regional development, the Bank has contributed to fostering inclusive and sustainable development and economic integration.
The Banks’ disbursement performance as of 30th September, 2025, has reached US$429.27 million, or 85.85% of the annual target of US$500 million, with US$143.46 million to the private sector and US$285.82 million to the public sector.
He further added that the matter was discussed at the Extraordinary Council of Ministers in Accra, Ghana, in April 2025, where EBID Management was tasked with engaging its Board of Governors on the issue. Subsequently, the three countries that are shareholders of the Bank have expressed their interest in remaining in the Bank while continuing to honour their obligations to EBID.
The Board of Governors of the Bank, at its 13th Extraordinary Session, by a resolution, decided to allow the AES countries to continue to work with the Bank and retain their staff. The decision by the Board of Governors aligns with Article 21.2 of the ECOWAS Treaty and Supplementary Act No. A/SA.9/01/07; which established EBID and granted the Bank institutional and operational autonomy to promote sustainable development across the region.
And in the resolution by the Board of Governors it is being presented to the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS for their blessing.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com