Dr George Agyekum Donkor, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development EBID, has called for a bold and strategic approach to climate financing as a catalyst for Africa's sustainable growth and economic transformation. His remarks were delivered at the 2025 Africa Financial Summit AFIS held in Casablanca, Morocco.
Addressing delegates on the theme, "Climate and Bond Markets: How to Build Africa's Sustainable Finance Arsenal" , Dr Donkor emphasised that Africa already possesses significant financial resources to fund climate-smart investments. He highlighted that the continent's pension funds alone exceed USD 160 billion, with more than 90 invested in government securities and instruments. West Africa, he noted, accounts for approximately USD 40 billion of these assets.
"The challenge," Dr Donkor argued, "is not the availability of capital but rather ensuring projects are investment-ready and attractive, and that there is the political will to channel these resources into sustainable development." He urged African governments and financial institutions to prioritise the de-risking of climate-focused projects and to implement regulatory frameworks that facilitate access to climate-sensitive financing. Such measures, he noted, are essential to accelerating Africa's sustainable development agenda.