Ethiopia’s Zenawi calls for Africa’s support for Okonjo-Iweala’s World Bank presidential bid
As the race for the World Bank’s presidency heats up, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi has called on African countries to stand behind the African candidate, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Delivering the Keynote address at the opening of the 5th Joint Annual Meetings of the African Union (AU) Conference of Ministers of Economy and Finance and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Monday March 26, 2012, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, he said the fact that she is a candidate shows there is a wind of change in what he described as “the citadel of the bankrupt neo-liberal ideology.”
Dr.Okonjo-Iweala who is the only African in the three-person race including Colombian national José Antonio Ocampo and the Korean-American Jim Yong Kim was confirmed by the World Bank on Friday March 23, 2012.
The World Bank said it expects the new President to be elected “by consensus” by the 2012 Spring Meetings with the International Monetary Fund that begin on April 20.
If elected Okonjo-Iweala will be the first African to head the Bretton-Woods Institution which has always been led by an American.
By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi calling is very right i hope all african should stand behind Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as only candidate for Africa. wish all the best for the first time Africa going to take ghier position which Occupied by USA.