Eight candidates in the running for the next Africa Development Bank presidency, have presented their vision for the Bank and Africa (AFDB), pledging to address inequality, unemployment and to ensure private sector participation.

The candidates submitted their vision statements for the Bank and the continent when the Institute of Economic Affairs hosted a live event via webcast in Accra.

The webcast was patronised by key officials, including Trade Minister; Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, and Mr Emile Shot, former Commissioner of Human Rights Administrative Justice.

The candidates are Akinwumi A. Adesina from Nigeria, Sufian Ahmed of Ethiopia, Jaloul Ayed of Tunisia, Kordjé Bedoumra of Chad and Cristina Duarte Cabo from Cape Verde.

The rest are Samura M. W. Kamara from Sierra Leone, Thomas Z. Sakala from Zimbabwe and Birama Boubacar Sidibe from Mali.

Senior Economist at IEA, Dr John Kwakye expressed the hope that the candidates would deliver on their promise and bring their experience to bear on the bank to address the myriad of problems facing the continent.