Kasaija in Ghana for African Caucus meeting

Finance minister Matia Kasaija is in Ghana to attend the African Caucus meeting which brings together ministers of finance and central bank governors on the African continent.

The African Caucus was established in 1963 as the African group with the objective of strengthening the voice of African Governors in the Bretton Woods Institutions (International Monetary Fund and World Bank) on development issues of interest to Africa.

The theme for this year's meeting is; "Africa Beyond Aid: Enhancing Institutional Capacity and Innovative Finance for Sustainable Growth."

Speaking ahead of the Caucus meeting, Kasaija said he was looking forward to comparing notes with other ministers of finance in Africa in addition to receiving the views of the World Bank on development of the African continent.

Commenting on the theme for the meeting, Kasaija said, "The world is moving so fast. There is now cryptocurrency and other financial innovations which we should quickly adopt. Otherwise, we shall be left behind."

According to the World Bank brief for this meeting, the theme for this meeting sets the vision and ambition for Africa to transform and grow its economies faster and provide jobs for all its citizenry.

"Emphasis will be on African governors deliberating on actions that policymakers in Africa and the BWI's must take to build durable human and institutional capacity, strengthen public financial management, and promote innovative finance for economic transformation and development of the continent."

Some of the panellists for the three-day event, which runs from July 31 to August 2, include Dr Donald Kaberuka, chairman and managing partner of South Bridge and special envoy of the African Union on financing and peace fund.

Others are Dr Kingsley Amoako, founder and president of the African Centre for Economic Transformation and Dr Ernest Addison, Governor Bank of Ghana.

On the sidelines of the African Caucus, Kasaija is also expected to have a meeting with Hafez Ghanem, the vice-president for Africa region, World Bank Group.