Newly-appointed World Bank country manager for Liberia, Khwima Nthara ,says his appointment is a huge responsibility at a time the West African country is going through some challenges.
He becomes the second Malawian to hold such a position after Charles Munthali, who was appointed World Bank country manager for Ghana in 1977.
In a written response on Wednesday from Washington D.C., United States of America, Nthara said he is honoured by the confidence and trust World Bank senior management has entrusted in him to lead the bank’s engagement in Liberia.
He said: “I am also honoured by the fact that we have not had many Malawians play this role at the World Bank before. The people of Liberia can expect me to do my best in building on the achievements of my predecessor.
“As for the people of Malawi, all I can say is that I will do everything I can to represent our country well.”
Nthara, who succeeds Larisa Leshchenko from Ukraine whose tenure expires on July 31 2019, joined the bank in 2005, working as an economist in the Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Department, but currently serves as economic adviser in the World Bank Operations Policy and Country Services vice-presidency in Washington D.C.
He has served the Bretton Woods institution in a number of positions in Africa, East Asia and Pacific regions, including as programme leader in Nigeria and senior country economist for Nigeria, Myanmar and Malawi.
