The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Akufo-Addo is optimistic Ghana’s Dr Victoria Kwakwa will “excel” as the new Regional Vice President for East Asia and Pacific of the World Bank.

“Having previously served as a senior World Bank economist in Nigeria, to becoming country manager for Rwanda and Vietnam, the portents are considerable that she will excel in this new position and bring her wealth of experience to bear in a region which is home to several countries that have experienced the most dramatic economic transformations of the modern era,” Nana Addo said in a statement to congratulate the Ghanaian.

Dr Kwakwa has been given the responsibility of leading the Bank's advisory and lending operations in the region and overseeing strategic engagement with the region's 23-member countries.

“For us in Ghana, seeking to emulate successes of the economies in East Asia and Pacific which have brought new wealth and prosperity to over 2 billion people, it is my hope that we would be able to tap into Dr. Kwakwa’s knowledge and expertise as we chart our own path towards the structural transformation of our economy from a raw material producing one to a competitive, industrialised economy.

“She joins a long list of distinguished Ghanaians, like Peter Gyamfi, K.Y. Amoako, Albert Osei, the late Gobind Nankani, Yaw Ansu, Yvonne Tsikata, Leticia Obeng, and Paa T. Ofosu Amaah (recently, tragically deceased), all of whom rose to and distinguished themselves in high-ranking leadership positions in this famous international financial institution.

“I wish her God’s blessings and continued success in her new role,” Nana Akufo-Addo said.