Accra, Feb. 2, GNA – Eight Executive Directors of the World Bank Group (WBG) are in Accra for a five-day familiarisation visit, a statement from the Public Relations Unit of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning announced on Thursday.

The visit affords the Directors, who are accompanied by two Alternative Executive Directors and four advisors, the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the programmes and priorities of the Government and to ascertain the impact of the WBG’s interventions in the country.

The statement said the delegation was expected to meet key government officials, private sector and civil society groups on various economic and developmental issues.

Discussions would centre on energy, agriculture, urban management and poverty reduction, it said.

“The visiting delegation will have the opportunity to visit some communities and projects where World Bank interventions have been implemented,” the statement said.

It said member countries govern the WBG through the Board of Executive Directors, which is made up of 24 Executive Directors.

The number is a representative of all the 187 member countries of the World Bank.

“The eight visiting Executive Directors represent the interests of about 86 countries in the WBG,” it said.

The statement added that Executive Directors had dual responsibility as representatives of the Bank’s member countries that appointed them and as Bank officials who represent the interests and concerns of those countries.

“They are charged with the responsibility of conducting the general operations of the Bank and exercise all the powers delegated to them by the Board of Governors.