President John Dramani Mahama is set to travel to Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, for the 2025 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group that will take place from today, May 26, to May 30.

The president delayed his flight for the meeting in order to honour an invitation to the 9th Ghana CEO Summit under the theme “Transforming business and governance for a sustainable futuristic economy”.

The outgoing president of Ivory Coast, Alassane Dramane Ouattara, was expecting him this morning, but he was called to be informed of the late arrival of President Mahama.

"As much as I’d have wanted to stay for quite a long time, unfortunately I’d have to run off immediately after this to catch the flight to Abidjan," President Mahama said at the summit.

He thanked the organizers for the consistent invitation even when he was the opposition leader.

Due to his visit, the president had to miss the presidential panel being led by Kofi Abotsi, Associate Professor of comparative constitutional and international law, and Dean of the UPSA Law School.

At the 2025 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group, the governors of the African Development Bank will elect a successor to the current Group President, Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, whose second five-year term is ending.

More than 6,000 delegates, including African heads of state and government, finance ministers, central bank governors, development partners, private sector representatives, civil society leaders, academics, think tanks and opinion leaders, NGOs, and other stakeholders, are expected to take part in the event.

The meetings will be held at the Sofitel Abidjan Hotel Ivoire in Abidjan under the theme "Making Africa's Capital Work Better for Africa's Development."

This strategic theme focuses on identifying and harnessing Africa's diverse capital resources—human, natural, financial, and commercial—to drive the continent's structural transformation.

The aim is to promote the transition to more inclusive, green, and resilient economies, while mobilizing complementary external financing through diversified partnerships.

The meetings will also feature discussions addressing cross-cutting factors such as digital transformation, institutional strengthening, and good governance. This holistic approach aligns with the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Climate Agreement, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the Bank Group's High 5s.

About two weeks ago, President John Dramani Mahama arrived in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, to participate in the Africa CEO Forum 2025, one of the continent’s premier platforms for dialogue between political and business leaders.

He and his entourage landed at the Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport on Monday, 12th May.

President Mahama was accompanied by Secretary to the President, Dr. Callistus Mahama, presidential adviser on economy, Seth Terkper and Stan Dogbe, Deputy Chief of Staff.