Ghana has stated her readiness to take over the directorship of the Africa Group on the Board of the African Development Bank (ADB) at this years meeting which opens in Valencia on Monday.

In a pre-departure interview, Ghana’s Finance Minister, Yaw Osafo Marfo told the Ghana News Agency that with a sizeable voting support of 65 per cent, “Ghana should take her rightful position on the board.” He noted that he has already informed the ADB of Ghana’s desire to take up the Executive Directorship.

Mr. Osafo Marfo said Ghana is looking forward to making the ADB increase its budgetary support for African countries since it is an African bank and has the power to the solution of the continent’s problems.

He challenged the conditionalities prescribed by the bank for countries seeking assistance arguing that “once countries pass the litmus IMF and World Bank tests, they should automatically qualify for assistance from the ADB.