Ghanaian Appointed to World Bank's Inspection Panel ( July 28 ,1998 )
CONTACT: Eduardo G. Abbott (202)458-5200
Washington July 28, 1998—Prof. Edward S. Ayensu, a Ghanaian national, was appointed by the World Bank Executive Directors for a five year term as a member of the independent Inspection Panel. He replaces Mr. Alvaro Umaña Quesada, who concludes his four year term on July 31, 1998. The other members of the Inspection Panel are Messrs. Ernst-Günther Bröder, and Jim MacNeill.
Professor Edward S. Ayensu is President of the Pan-African Union for Science and Technology and an international development advisor. He held many important positions during his 20 years at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. He is Executive Chairman of Edward S. Ayensu Associates Ltd. – Science, Technology and Economic Consultants and Executive Chairman of Advanced Gracewell Communications Co. Ltd. and the founding Chairman of the African Biosciences Network. He is Chairman of the Ghana National Biodiversity Committee. He is also a member of the International Advisory Council on Global Scientific Communications, UNESCO and member of the Board of Directors and International Vice Chairman of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). In addition, he has held various posts in other international scientific and technical organizations. For nearly two years he was the Senior Advisor to the President and the Director for Central Projects Department at the African Development Bank. He was formerly the Vice-Chairman, and advisor to the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel of the Global Environment Facility – a multi-billion dollar fund administered by the World Bank, UNDP, and UNEP. He is a former member of the Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme Consultative Group which is administered by the World Bank and UNDP, and of the Senior Advisory Council of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF). Prof. Ayensu obtained his doctorate degree from the University of London.
The Inspection Panel is an independent entity established by the World Bank's Board of Executive Directors in 1993 to help ensure that Bank operations adhere to the institution's operational policies and procedures. A Request for Inspection may be filed by any group of individuals who believe that their rights or interests have been or may be directly and adversely affected by a Bank-supported project. Any such group can request that the Inspection Panel investigates their complaints that the Bank failed to abide by its policies and procedures in the project's design, appraisal, and/or implementation. Panel recommendations for an investigation are subject to approval by the World Bank's Board of Executive Directors. Since it began operations in September 1994, the Panel has received thirteen formal requests.
For more information on the Inspection Panel, please visit our website:http://www.worldbank.org(search "Inspection Panel") or call the World Bank Public Information Center (202) 458-5454