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 taking place during the Bank’s Annual Meetings.

The election will determine the successor to Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the AfDB Group’s 8th elected President, who was first elected on May 28, 2015, by the Bank’s Board of Governors at its Annual Meetings in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

Five distinguished candidates from across the continent are in the running:


  • 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 is tasked with overseeing the integrity and transparency of the electoral process, in line with Article 5 of the Bank’s electoral rules. His responsibilities include:

He will be supported by the Bank’s Secretary General, General Counsel, and a technical team responsible for ensuring accurate vote tabulation, in accordance with Article 7 of the election rules.

Dr. Forson’s selection reflects the Board of Governors' confidence in his professionalism, integrity, and dedication to good governance within multilateral financial institutions.

His leadership in this pivotal role is expected to ensure a fair and credible election process as the Bank prepares to usher in its next President.

Source: Ministry of Finance