By: Henrietta Afful
Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire – Ghana’s Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has been appointed as the Returning Officer for the presidential elections of the African Development Bank (AfDB), currently underway during the Bank’s Annual Meetings.
The elections will determine the next President of the AfDB Group, succeeding Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, who has held the position since his initial election on May 28, 2015.
Five distinguished candidates from across the continent are vying for the presidency:
- Mr. Amadou Hott – Senegal
- Dr. Samuel Munzele Maimbo – Zambia
- Dr. Sidi Ould Tah – Mauritania
- Mr. Abbas Mahamat Tolli – Chad
- Ms. Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala – South Africa
As Returning Officer, Dr. Forson will oversee the integrity and smooth conduct of the election process, in accordance with Article 5 of the Bank’s electoral rules. His responsibilities include verifying the ballot box is empty before each voting round, ensuring the number of ballots matches the number of eligible voters, rejecting invalid ballots, and confirming that only valid votes are counted.
He will be supported by the AfDB’s Secretary General, General Counsel, and a technical team tasked with accurate vote tabulation, as detailed under Article 7 of the electoral framework.
Dr. Forson’s appointment underscores the confidence the AfDB Board of Governors places in his professionalism, integrity, and commitment to transparency and good governance within multilateral financial institutions.
The outcome of the election is expected to shape the leadership trajectory of Africa’s premier development finance institution for the coming years.
