Victoria Kwakwa is a Ghanaian economist who currenttly serves as the Vice President of the World Bank for Eastern and Southern Africa. She previously served as the Vice President of the World Bank for Corporate Strategic Initiatives from September 2021 to 01 July 2022.[1][2]

Victoria Kwakwa
Vice President of the World Bank for Eastern and Southern Africa
Assumed office
01 July 2022
PresidentAjay Banga
David Malpass
Preceded byHafez Ghanem
Vice President of the World Bank for Corporate Strategic Initiatives
In office
01 September 2021 – 01 July 2022
PresidentDavid Malpass
Vice President of the World Bank for East Asia and the Pacific
In office
15 April 2016 – 01 September 2021
PresidentDavid Malpass
Kristalina Georgieva (Acting)
Jim Yong Kim
Succeeded byManuela Ferro (fr)
Personal details
BornGhana
Nationality Ghanaian
Alma materUniversity of Ghana (BA)
Queens University (MA,PhD)
OccupationEconomist

She also served as Vice President at the World Bank for East Asia and the Pacific between April 2016 and August 2021.[3][4] Prior to that she was country director of the World Bank in Vietnam.[5]

Early life and education

edit

She obtained her B.A. Degree in Economics and Statistics from the University of Ghana, Legon. She later attended Queens University in Kingston, Canada for her M.A. and PhD in Economics with a specialization in International Trade and Finance and Monetary Theory.[6]

Career

edit

She started her career as a young economist with the World Bank (WB) in 1989.[7] As President of the East Asia Pacific Region, Kwakwa was the direct manager of Rodrigo Chaves who was ultimately forced to resign from WB in late 2019 after multiple complaints of sexual harassment and assault. Internal investigations led to his recall to Washington and demotion. Chaves was WB Country Director for Indonesia 2013-19 from which multiple complaints arose. Kwakwa did not take action. Chaves later became the Finance Minister for Costa Rica.[8][9]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Victoria Kwakwa Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa". World Bank. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Victoria Kwakwa is the new World Bank Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa". African Shapers. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Victoria Kwakwa World Bank Vice President for East Asia and Pacific Archives". Vanuatu Independent. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  4. ^ "Victoria Kwakwa". World Bank. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  5. ^ Ayitey, Charles. "Ghanaian Victoria Kwakwa gets top World Bank appointment". Yen.com.gh - Ghana news. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  6. ^ "The full text of Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari's Democracy Day Speech - Ventures Africa". Ventures Africa. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  7. ^ "Victoria Kwakwa, World Bank Group/The: Profile & Biography". Bloomberg. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  8. ^ Pérez, Santiago (18 October 2021). "WSJ News Exclusive | World Bank Mishandled Sexual-Harassment Claims, Internal Tribunal Says". Wall Street Journal.
  9. ^ "President Jokowi Hosts World Bank President". Sekretariat Kabinet Republik Indonesia. 26 July 2017.
edit