Roadmap for AfDB’s return to Ivory Coast gets approval

The roadmap that will see the return of the African Development Bank (AfDB) to its headquarters in Abidjan, Ivory Coast has been approved.

The Bank’s Board of Governors approved the roadmap May 31, 2013 after a two-day meeting on the matter at the just-ended AfDB Annual Meetings in Marrakech, Morocco.

“We have approved the roadmap for the Bank’s return to its headquarters in Abidjan,” they said in a communique.

Tunisia since 2003 has been the temporary headquaters of the AfDB and the Board of Governors thanked the country for hosting the Bank.

In a resolution, the Governors stated that the Bank’s return should conform with the conditions and modalities of the roadmap.

They directed the Board of Directors to “closely supervise the implementation of the roadmap and submit such periodic reports thereon” as they may deem necessary and expedient.

In the event of any change in the security alert levels in Ivory Coast that may have an impact on the roadmap, the Governors indicated that the Bank’s management should “immediately” inform the Board of Directors for an appropriate course of action to be taken.

The AfDB’s President, Dr Donald Kaberuka stated categorically that “the roadmap will be implemented to the letter”.

By Ekow Quandzie in Marrakech, Morocco