The World Bank Group is reaffirming its commitment to Ghana’s economic recovery as its Managing Director and Chief Knowledge Officer, Paschal Donohoe, prepares to visit Ghana and Liberia from March 15 to March 20, 2026.
The visit marks Mr. Donohoe’s first trip to West Africa since his appointment to the World Bank Group leadership in November 2025. His presence in the region highlights the institution’s continued support for Ghana’s macroeconomic recovery and broader development agenda.
Officials say the visit aims to strengthen collaboration between the World Bank Group and both countries while exploring strategies to translate ongoing reforms into sustained economic growth, job creation, and private sector investment.
The mission will focus on mobilizing private capital, expanding development knowledge, and leveraging global expertise to address economic challenges and improve livelihoods.
High-level meetings with Ghanaian leadership
While in Accra, Mr. Donohoe is scheduled to hold high-level discussions with President John Mahama as well as key government officials.
The talks are expected to center on Ghana’s economic recovery efforts, governance reforms, and initiatives aimed at boosting employment and strengthening economic resilience.
He will also meet with the Minister of Finance, the Speaker of Parliament, development partners, civil society representatives, and leaders within the business community.
In addition, the World Bank Managing Director will engage African-based think tanks and policy experts to explore practical solutions to development challenges and opportunities for sustainable growth.
These discussions are expected to contribute to shaping future policy actions and strengthening partnerships that support Ghana’s development priorities.
Focus on jobs, energy access, and economic governance
Central to the visit is a focus on initiatives that can accelerate job creation and enhance economic opportunities for citizens.
Among the priority areas is improving electricity access through the Mission 300 initiative, a major program aimed at expanding reliable energy supply across Africa.
Improving power access is seen as critical to supporting industrial growth, attracting private investment, and enabling businesses to expand operations.
Mr. Donohoe will also discuss strengthening economic governance and ensuring that reforms translate into tangible economic benefits.
The visit will further highlight efforts to improve development outcomes in key sectors such as infrastructure development, agriculture through the AgriConnect initiative, and education reforms aimed at reducing learning poverty.
Engagement with academia and development projects
As part of his engagements in Ghana, Mr. Donohoe will deliver a public lecture at the University of Ghana on the theme “Building Skills, Creating Jobs, and Empowering Africa’s Future.”
The lecture will focus on the importance of equipping Africa’s youth with relevant skills while strengthening educational systems to support long-term economic transformation.
He will also visit the Ghana Accountability and Learning Outcomes Project, widely known as GALOP. The project is designed to improve the quality of basic education and strengthen accountability within the education system.
Another key stop on the itinerary is Africa’s largest single rooftop solar project located at LMI in the Tema Free Zone Enclave. The solar facility supplies 16.82 megawatts of electricity to businesses operating within the enclave.
The project demonstrates the potential of renewable energy investments in supporting sustainable industrial development while reducing energy costs for companies.
World Bank’s strong investment footprint in Ghana
The World Bank Group has maintained a long-standing partnership with Ghana, dating back to 1957.
Currently, the institution’s portfolio in Ghana stands at approximately US$4.24 billion spread across 22 active projects.
These projects support a wide range of sectors including energy, infrastructure, education, agriculture, and governance reforms.
The International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, has also been expanding its investment presence in Ghana.
Over the past two fiscal years, the IFC has invested more than US$800 million in the country. Since July 2025 alone, the organization has committed over US$520 million to various private sector initiatives.
Meanwhile, the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency has an active exposure of about US$330 million in Ghana. These guarantees support investments across key sectors such as infrastructure, energy, and financial services.
Liberia engagements to strengthen development cooperation
Following his engagements in Ghana, Mr. Donohoe will travel to Liberia where he will hold meetings with President Joseph Boakai and other senior officials.
Discussions in Monrovia will include engagements with the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, the Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia, and private sector leaders.
The talks will focus on priority areas such as education, energy, and private investment opportunities that can stimulate economic growth.
Mr. Donohoe will also visit the Mount Coffee Hydro Power Plant, a key energy facility that supplies about 88 megawatts of electricity to Monrovia and surrounding communities.
The site is currently hosting the construction of a 20 megawatt solar photovoltaic plant, which will further strengthen Liberia’s energy capacity and support sustainable power generation.
Expanding development impact in West Africa
The World Bank continues to play a critical role in supporting development across West Africa.
In Liberia, the World Bank currently maintains an active portfolio valued at approximately US$936.8 million across 18 projects.
These initiatives focus on improving infrastructure such as roads and energy systems, strengthening health systems, supporting agriculture and fisheries, expanding social safety nets, and promoting governance reforms.
Additional projects aim to improve water supply, empower women, and strengthen the investment and trade environment.
The International Finance Corporation currently has an active investment portfolio of about US$12.6 million in Liberia, while the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency maintains a guarantee portfolio of US$81 million supporting cross-border telecommunications investments.
With Ghana and Liberia pursuing reforms and development priorities, the visit by the World Bank’s Managing Director is expected to deepen cooperation and reinforce efforts to promote inclusive growth, economic stability, and sustainable development in the region.
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