The FINANCIAL — The World Bank and IFC inaugurates a common office building in central Accra, bringing together under one roof the skills and expertise of the World Bank Group in Ghana that will foster greater collaboration and provide better service for the country’s public and private sector clients, and the general public at large.
The new building offers sufficient space in Accra to reunite IFC and World Bank staff, who previously were serving governments and private businesses in Ghana and other West African countries from separate locations. The common facilities will allow staff to better coordinate their resources and services in in pursuit of the World Bank Group twin goals of ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity. The closer proximity of teams will be leveraged in support of a new global strategy launched by World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim that further encourages a common approach across the World Bank Group.
“I see the new building as a partial materialization of the Bank’s commitment to work as one institution and as a strong statement of dedication to our partnership with Ghana. The transparent glass exterior should be seen as our invitation to our client governments and the general public to expect not only more efficient, one-stop service, but also to expect a more open, frank and accountable World Bank Group,” said World Bank Resident Representative Yusupha Crookes, who also provides leadership for the Bank’s teams in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
“IFC will build on our work with the World Bank and MIGA by making it easier for teams to collaborate and better serve government and business clients. Ghana is one of the region’s most promising markets for investment and ideal location for serving several West African markets. IFC is committed to ensuring that the private sector plays an important role in reducing poverty and increasing prosperity,” said Mary-Jean Moyo, IFC Senior Country Manager.
IFC’s office in Accra supports activities in Ghana and seven other West Africa countries, according to the World Bank Group. Additionally, IFC and MIGA, a member of the World Bank Group that promotes foreign direct investment into emerging economies to support economic growth, have a Business Development partnership. The partnership seeks to leverage complementary products offered by each institution to more effectively advance private sector development in challenging markets.
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