FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
London, United Kingdom | 8, July 2026
Dr George Agyekum Donkor, President and Chairman of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), has been honoured with the Distinguished African Development Finance Leadership Award at the 16th African Business Leadership Awards (ABLA) 2026, in recognition of his visionary leadership in development finance, regional integration, and infrastructure investment across West Africa.
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Presented during a prestigious ceremony at the historic House of Lords in London, the award celebrates Dr Donkor’s transformative role in reshaping West Africa’s economic architecture and his unwavering commitment to mobilising capital for sustainable development. The recognition was conferred by the African Leadership Organisation and the editorial board of African Leadership Magazine.
Under Dr Donkor’s strategic direction, EBID has driven unprecedented financial deployment across priority regional trade corridors, allocating approximately USD 1 billion toward energy and utility infrastructure, directing over USD 1.1 billion to finance small and medium-sized enterprises, and committing close to USD 450 million to secure agriculture and agro-processing value chains. His tenure has also been marked by significant institutional milestones, including credit rating upgrades from Moody’s and Fitch, securing Green Climate Fund accreditation, and positioning EBID to welcome the African Development Bank as its first institutional shareholder.
The award aligned with the ALM Africa Summit, where EBID served as a Strategic Development Finance Partner. During the summit, Dr Donkor participated in high-level closed-door sessions with members of the UK House of Lords, advancing dialogue on aligning cross-border capital flows into West African markets and strengthening investment partnerships between Europe and Africa.
Demonstrating continued momentum, Dr Donkor recently chaired EBID’s 99th Ordinary Session, where the Board approved over USD 417 million in new public and private sector funding. This package targets critical projects, including a USD 260 million allocation for the Trans-Saharan Highway section in Nigeria, alongside significant investments in healthcare, mining, and affordable housing.
The African Business Leadership Awards recognise outstanding individuals and organisations whose leadership, innovation, and commitment to excellence are shaping Africa’s economic transformation and sustainable development.
Media Contact
King Richard Igimoh,
Group Editor,
African Leadership Magazine,
United Kingdom | Africa
Email: editor@africanleadership.co.uk
Website: www.africanleadershipmagazine.co.uk
