The Country Director of the World Bank, Henry Kerali says an independent media which is empowered and energized to inform and educate the public to make informed choices to help propel the growth of Ghana is needed for a successful ‘Ghana Beyond Aid’.

According to him, the ‘Ghana Beyond Aid’ agenda is in line with the World Bank’s mission to end extreme poverty.

“The World Bank’s mission is to end extreme poverty and to promote shared prosperity in a sustainable way, this recognizes the role of the media to support the efforts to improve management of natural resources for inclusive growth and development,” he said.

Speaking at the launch of the 2018 Institute of Financial and Economic Journalist (IFEJ) Flamingo Awards for Business and Financial Journalism in Accra, July 17, Mr. Kerali said the theme for the event “Towards better management of Natural resources for inclusive growth and development” is very appropriate for the development of Ghana.

He said, natural resources are critical for Ghana’s economic growth, jobs and poverty alleviation.

‘Many industrialized and developed countries including Australia, Canada, Sweden, Norway, United States, South Africa and Botswana have depended on the exploration and extraction of minerals as the basis for their economic development,” he added.



The Country Director of the World Bank also noted that, Ghana is depleting its natural resource wealth whilst missing opportunities for economic transformation.

“Since 2000, per capita economic losses due to natural resource degradation doubled from US$100 to US$200 per person per year today. In 2006, analysts put the cost of these environmental degradation at more than 10 percent of GDP” he said.



Mr. Kerali said, the World Bank group will continue to support Ghana under its country Partnership Framework to help achieve its long-term development aspiration, through sustainable management of its environment and natural resources.

The IFEJ awards which is slated for December 2018 will be awarding journalists in the following categories;

1. Overall Best Business and Financial Journalist Award

2. Best Business/Manufacturing Feature/News story

3. Best Finance Feature/News story

4. Best Business of Health feature/News

5. Best in local Economy feature/News

6. Best Development feature/News story

7. Best Agribusiness feature/News story

8. Best Natural Resource feature/News story

9. Best Informational and communication Technology feature/News story

10. Best Tourism Feature/News story