ACBF’s plans to foster stronger relationships between the Foundation and its partners and act as a primary source of information to the ACBF secretariat on capacity developments in West Africa have moved a step closer with the opening of its first regional office in Accra, Ghana. The office will allow ACBF to decentralise its operations department work in Western and Central Africa (WCA) and also ensure closeness to ACBF partners as well as increase efficiency in response to the regions needs on capacity development.
The WCA office is hosted by the African Development Bank (AfDB) on a temporary basis following a Memorandum of Understanding with the bank and moved to the premises at the start of February.
There has been a challenge for the WCA office in securing adequate long term office space. However, the Government of Ghana has agreed to cover the cost of the temporary office till a permanent location is secured.
A Host Country Agreement (HCA) between ACBF and the Government of Ghana was signed on 23 May 2013. The HCA was ratified by the Parliament of Ghana on 18 July 2013.
The signing of the HCA and the commitment of the Government of Ghana to provide suitable office space for the operation of the regional office is evidence of Ghana’s continued support for the ACBF’s work in the country and in the WCA Region.
The office will serve as a regional hub providing capacity building, knowledge products and services to stakeholders in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).
Currently, ACBF has 35 operational projects in the region.
