Bolstering Transparency Credentials, African Development Bank Group's Board of Directors Swears in Disclosure and Access to Information (Dai) Appeals Panel Members

22 November 2024
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African Development Bank (Abidjan)
announcement

The African Development Bank Group has constituted its Disclosure and Access to Information (DAI) Appeals Panel - A landmark move to enhance and strengthen its mechanism for information governance.

The establishment of the DAI Appeals Panel emphasizes the Bank's commitment to transparency and accountability, providing stakeholders access to information and a clear process for appeals.

The DAI Appeals Panel nominees took their oaths on 13 November 2024, at a ceremony presided over by Bank Senior Vice President Ms. Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade, on behalf of the Bank Group President and Chairman of the Boards of Directors, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina. In attendance were members of the Bank's Boards of Directors.

The Appeals Panel will oversee appeals for information initially denied by the Records Management and Information Disclosure Committee (RMIDC), in line with the Bank Group Policy on Disclosure and Access to Information, strengthening governance and transparency efforts. The Bank's top ranking in the Aid Transparency Index and its long-standing commitment to the International Aid Transparency Initiative underscore these values.

The DAI Appeals Panel serves as the second stage of appeals mechanisms with the mandate to act as a final review body on the decisions of the RMIDC, the first level of appeals. The RMIDC is chaired by the Secretary General of the Bank Group and is fully functional.

According to the Bank Group's DAI policy: "persons with legitimate concerns about the Bank Group's omission or refusal to disclose information in accordance with this Policy will have access to effective and responsive two-stage appeals mechanisms within the Bank Group."

Akin-Olugbade congratulated the nominees, saying: "This esteemed role highlights your commitment to transparency, accountability, and the highest standards of governance. As a member of this Appeals Panel, you will be at the forefront of ensuring fair and responsible access to information, a cornerstone for fostering trust and openness within the institution and among stakeholders. Your expertise will be invaluable in supporting the African Development Bank's mission to maintain an environment where information is accessible and managed responsibly."

The panel, made up of six members, will operate on an ad hoc basis, and its decisions are not subject to any further recourse. Each member of the Panel serves a three-year term renewable once.

Members:

  • Mr. Mohammed Nyaoga (Kenya) - Senior Counsel and Senior Partner at Mohammed Muigai LLP.
  • Mr. Devalingum Gopalla (Mauritius) - Partner at Dentons, specializing in Banking & Finance.
  • Dr. Dilys Asuagbor (USA) - Head of the Ethics Office at the African Development Bank Group.

Alternate members:

  • Prof. Walter St. Hilaire Amedzro (Togo/Canada) - Professor of Development Economics at the University of Ottawa, Canada, and Associate Professor Fellow in Development Sciences and Business Economics at the Sorbonne Management School's PRISM Laboratory.
  • Hon. Justice Zainab F. Jawara Alami (Gambia) - Judge of the High Court of Gambia.
  • Mr. Mike Salawou (Denmark) - Director of Infrastructure, Cities & Urban Development at the African Development Bank Group.

View photos from the oath-taking ceremony here

Further information on the Bank Group Disclosure and Access to Information policy can be accessed here.

Read the original article on African Development Bank (AfDB).

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