Pierre Laporte named World Bank country director for Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone |01 July 2019

Pierre Laporte

Seychelles’ former finance minister Pierre Laporte has been appointed the new World Bank country director for Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone. His appointment takes effect today, July 1, 2019 and he will be based in the World Bank’s Accra office in Ghana.

Mr Laporte joined the World Bank in July 2015 as country director for Benin, Burkina, Côte d’Ivoire and Togo in the Africa region.

Prior to joining the bank, he held several key positions in the Seychelles government, including governor of the Central Bank of Seychelles, and later Minister for Finance, Trade and Investment. He is also a former International Monetary Fund Economist and Fund Resident Representative. He also worked in the private sector as the chief executive of the Sacos Insurance Group in Seychelles.

According to Ghana News Agency, in his new position, Laporte’s top three priorities will be to (i) lead the Bank’s strategic dialogue with Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone and support the implementation of the World Bank’s Africa Region’s priorities, (ii) deepen the policy dialogue and partnership with governments and key stakeholders, and (iii) oversee the delivery and implementation of the lending and non-lending portfolio.

Laporte holds a Masters’ degree in Economics (with Distinction) from the University of Sheffield (UK) and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics with Computing from the University of Surrey (UK). He is also a holder of several awards: in 1998 he received the Midland Bank Award for Outstanding Performer in the Economics, Money, Banking and Finance programs of the University of Sheffield. He received the 2013 Southern African Finance Minister of the Year award by the African Leadership Magazine and a Special Commendation Award for Outstanding Contribution and Service to Humanity by the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus in 2014.