By GhanaNewsPage In a significant diplomatic maneuver, Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, a leading candidate for the presidency of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), held a high-level meeting with former Ghanaian President H.E. John Dramani Mahama.
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The meeting, attended by Mauritania’s Minister of Economy and Finance, Sid’Ahmed Ould Bouh, underscores Dr. Ould Tah’s strategic outreach efforts across the continent as the AfDB presidential election draws closer.
The engagement was hosted in Accra and is part of Dr. Ould Tah’s broader campaign to garner continental support for his candidacy to lead Africa’s most prestigious multilateral financial institution. With Ghana playing a central role in West African politics and economics, President Mahama’s support is seen as a potential game-changer.
Mahama’s influence stretches far beyond Ghana’s borders—he is a respected voice on pan-African economic development, regional cooperation, and governance. As a former Chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and an advocate for inclusive development, Mahama’s endorsement would carry significant weight within the African Union and AfDB Board of Governors.
“Securing the support of thought leaders and elder statesmen like President Mahama is not only about votes—it’s about aligning with Africa’s shared vision for sustainable, inclusive growth,” said a senior campaign aide to Dr. Ould Tah.
Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, an experienced development economist and current Director General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), has steadily built a reputation as a proponent of transformational infrastructure financing, rural development, and south-south cooperation.
With his extensive background in Islamic finance, public sector leadership, and regional development banking, Ould Tah is considered one of the most technically proficient and diplomatically connected candidates in the AfDB race.
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The African Development Bank Group, headquartered in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, plays a critical role in financing infrastructure, climate resilience, education, and economic transformation across Africa. The institution’s leadership wields considerable influence over how billions of dollars in concessional loans and grants are allocated.
As the tenure of the current president nears its end, the selection of a new leader comes at a crucial juncture for Africa, amid rising debt levels, youth unemployment, climate challenges, and post-pandemic recovery efforts.
The election will be decided by AfDB’s Board of Governors, composed of finance ministers and central bank governors from 81 member countries (54 African and 27 non-regional). Building support from key regional heavyweights like Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt is essential for any candidate to secure victory.
President Mahama has long been seen as a voice of progressive Pan-Africanism and regional economic integration. His work with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and sustainable development initiatives gives him credibility as a statesman with a continental outlook.
His support could help Ould Tah secure endorsements from other West African nations, potentially creating a voting bloc within ECOWAS. Analysts believe that an alliance between Francophone and Anglophone countries could prove decisive in the election outcome.
As the campaign intensifies, Dr. Ould Tah is expected to ramp up his diplomatic engagements with African heads of state, finance ministries, and economic think tanks. His pitch is centered around inclusive financing, climate-smart infrastructure, regional integration, and youth entrepreneurship.
While the AfDB election date has not yet been formally announced, insiders suggest that the final vote will occur before the third quarter of 2025.
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With Africa navigating a complex web of economic, geopolitical, and climate-related challenges, the leadership of institutions like the AfDB will be pivotal. The engagement between Dr. Sidi Ould Tah and former President John Mahama is more than a political formality—it’s a reflection of the strategic alliances being formed to shape the future of Africa’s development path.
Mahama after a successful meeting
As the continent watches closely, the question remains: Who will lead the AfDB into its next era of transformation?
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