By, Savannah Pokuaah Duah
African Development Bank Presidential Candidate (AfDB), Dr. Samuel Munzele Maimbo has emphasised the need for partnerships and strategic investments to drive infrastructure development across the continent.
In an interview on GTV’s breakfast show, Dr. Maimbo highlighted the African Development Bank’s role in providing seed financing for infrastructure projects but stressed that partnerships with the private sector are crucial for long-term success.
“The African Development Bank should never be the long-term solution for infrastructure financing,” Dr. Maimbo said. “It provides seed financing, but you must partner with the private sector because that’s the only way they keep the revenue coming to expand that infrastructure network.”
Dr. Maimbo also pointed out the importance of strategic investments, particularly in difficult situations. “Strategic investments when you are resource-constrained can scale up the level of impact of any infrastructure you put on the continent,” he said.
This approach, Dr. Maimbo argued, can help to connect infrastructure projects across the continent, creating a more integrated and effective network.
“We want private sector firms owning rail lines, managing roads, and expanding,” he said. “We’ve got the port in Lome, which is strategically well placed, able to provide additional capacity to Sahelian countries.”
