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World Bank’s Revised Palm Oil Framework Threatens African Farmers

Developing World Agriculture And Commodities Markets Next In Line

January 26, 2010 (Lagos, Nigeria)—The Initiative for Public Policy
Analysis (IPPA), the Nigeria-based public policy think-tank, and seven leading African economists wrote today to two World Bank Executive Directors for AfricaDr. Renosi Mokate and Mr. Hassan Ahmed Taha, expressing concern with the
World Bank’s review of the palm oil framework.

The letter put forward key policy recommendations for the revised palm framework and requested that the Bank’s Board of Governors review the final framework to ensure that member governments in Africa can register their positions. IPPA strongly urges that before the World Bank releases the final framework, it must incorporate the concerns raised in this letter.

“This review undermines poverty alleviation programs in Africa and will increase food insecurity on the continent. Despite the Bank’s
acknowledgement of the palm oil sector’s successful role in alleviating poverty, sector support has been undermined by radical Western environmentalists’ hijacking of the Bank’s lending policies. Palm oil is only the first target in a long-term campaign against rural agricultural development. World agriculture workers and producers should be gravely concerned by this review, as environmentalist campaigns will start to impose standards on future lending for other commodities,” warned Thompson Ayodele, Director of IPPA and author of a recent New York Times editorial, The World Bank’s Palm Oil Mistake.

Ayodele and the seven other signers to the letter recommend three concrete steps to change the framework:

1. The IFC should not mandate a certification system for individual
farmers – a large constituency in Africa. This is an overreach of the
World Bank’s mission.

2. The World Bank Group should include a commitment in the new framework that it will not prioritize one certification system.

3. The World Bank should reaffirm its commitment to supporting development and reducing poverty, and firmly reject dictating to and limiting industry and sovereign governments.

The letter was signed by leading African economists and industry leaders, including the following:

• Thompson Ayodele, Initiative for Public Policy Analysis (Nigeria)
• Paul Adepelumi, African Center for Advocacy and Human Development (Nigeria)
• George Ayittey, Global Cheetah Palm Oil Company (Ghana)
• Franklin Cudjoe, IMANI Center for Policy and Education (Ghana)
• Niger Innis, Congress for Racial Equality (U.S.)
• Mahamadou SINTE, Center for Humane Affairs-CEDAH (Burkina Faso)
• Olusegun Sotola, Initiative for Public Policy Analysis (Nigeria)
• Richard Tren, Africa Fighting Malaria (South Africa)

The letter states, “The palm oil industry alone employs 1.8 million
Nigerians. Uganda is currently developing palm oil plantations as a tool to eradicate poverty. Industries exist in Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria and Uganda among others. Millions more stand to benefit from future agriculture development throughout the continent.

However, freezing of support by organizations and institutions such as the World Bank and commercial banks, there can be no sustainability, only poverty.”

Click here to read the letter.
<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=-1&msgid=0&act=11111&c=586470&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ippanigeria.org%2FIPPA-African-Economist_Letter_to_WB_African_EDs_1.11.pdf>

The Initiative for Public Policy Analysis (IPPA), the 2005 award-winning organization, is Nigeria's public policy research institute or think tank.

Its major concern is with the principles and institutions that enhance economic development and wealth creation, with particular focus on Africa and Nigeria.

For media enquiries, please contact the IPPA Director Thompson Ayodele on
+234.1.791.0959, +234.80.2302.5079 or
thompson@ippanigeria.org<mailto:thompson@ippanigeria.org>.

 

     

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Bank of Ghana May Cut Key Rate for Fourth Consecutive Meeting

Bloomberg, July 16, Ghanadot - Ghana’s central bank will probably reduce its benchmark interest rate today for the fourth consecutive meeting, after the inflation rate fell below 10 percent for the first time in two-and-a-half years.
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Bravo, NPP Minority in Parliament, you have saved Ghana over US$6b

 

Myjoyonline, July 16, Ghanadot -

On behalf of the Party’s leadership, I commend our Minority in Parliament, the various civil society groups, and the general public for standing up for the national interest in the matter of the STX housing deal. . .More

 

 

Keeping the Africa in Africa’s World Cup


NYTimes, July 16, Ghanadot - There were two teams in this compelling contest at Rustenburg. As difficult as it was for the United States to go out in such a fashion, the importance of Ghana’s young, brave and ultimately undeniable victory has ramifications for the World Cup as a whole. 
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