W. Ofosu-Amaah (Tunisia)

Mr. W. Paatii OFOSU-AMAAH has been a Special Adviser to the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) since September 2008. Prior to joining AfDB, Mr. Ofosu-Amaah worked for 29 years at the World Bank leaving its service as Vice President and Corporate Secretary of the World Bank Group at the end of December 2007. Before joining the World Bank, he was an associate in the New York law firm of Davis Polk & Wardwell and worked as Legal Officer in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. During his 29 years at the World Bank, he held various senior positions, including, Legal Adviser, Environmental Affairs (1986-1991), Chief Counsel, Africa Division (1991-2000), Deputy General Counsel (2000- 2003), and Acting Vice President and General Counsel (from January 2003). In August 2003, he was appointed Vice President and Corporate Secretary of the World Bank Group. Mr. Ofosu-Amaah was the legal adviser of the task force that conceived of the African Capacity Building Initiative. In that connection, he drafted and negotiated the Constitution of The African Capacity Building Foundation, its Headquarters Agreement and all ancillary legal documentation. He was also the Temporary Secretary and Legal Counsel at ACBF’s first Executive Board Meeting held in Sigtuna, Sweden. He has published and written on a variety of subjects, including on legal aspects of combating corruption, project finance and privatization, governance-related issues, environment and natural resources management, capacity building, legal and judicial reform, particularly the experience in Africa and the role of developing countries in international negotiations. He was a Visiting Professor at Queen Mary College, London University (2004-2007). He has law degrees from the University of Ghana and Harvard Law School.