Africa seeks partnership not patronage – African
Presidents
Accra, Aug. 5, Ghanadot/GNA – Four
African Heads of State have drawn the attention of President
Barack Obama’s Administration to the fact that Africa as a
continent was seeking partnership and not patronage.
A release from the World Bank Office in Accra on Wednesday
said President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia; President
Paul Kagame of Rwanda; President Seretse Khama Ian Khama of
Botswana and President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal said this
in a joint statement.
The Four said: “Just three weeks after President Barack
Obama's triumphant return from Africa, the real challenge to
achieving strategic change lies in Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton's own upcoming visit.
“Left unsaid as the President (Obama) boarded Air Force One
is the fact that Africa seeks not patrons but collaborators,
who will work "with" rather than "for" the Continent.
“If the Obama administration wishes to truly make a
difference, it must do so as an equal partner, addressing
several low-cost, high-impact priorities,” the joint
statement said.
“To start, developed partner countries must curb corruption
abroad. Efforts by African governments to strengthen
democracy and governance are weakened if money stolen from
the Continent can find safe havens in secret accounts in the
West.
“Chillingly, major OECD countries have yet to prosecute a
single defendant for fraudulent and corrupt practices
overseas. Poorly enforced international covenants won't
deter collusion and bid-rigging in large African
infrastructure contracts,” the Four Presidents said.
“Economic equations need to change as well. Since 1970,
Africa's share of global exports has declined from 3.5 per
cent to 1.5 per cent. To reduce poverty and sustain growth,
Africa must reverse this decline.
“Secretary Clinton has an opportunity to secure a quick win
while in Nairobi, Kenya, for the Africa Growth and
Opportunities Act forum this month,” the statement said.
“Expanding AGOA -the showpiece of America's trading
relationship with Africa - to include a larger number of
agricultural and processed commodities will help.
“But if Clinton does not address U.S. agricultural trade
subsidies that distort the forces of the marketplace AGOA
will never realize its potential - nor will Africa be able
to trade its way out of poverty.
“The global recession has hurt Africa. The surge in private
capital flows to the Continent, driven by efficiency gains
from policy improvements, has helped fund badly needed
infrastructure development.
“Since the economic crisis, however, these private flows -
which topped $53 billion in 2007, exceeding foreign
assistance for the first time - have fallen by 40 per cent.
There remains an annual $40 billion infrastructure financing
shortfall” the Four Presidents said.
“The deficit can be quickly addressed by catalyzing private
partnerships to raise equity finance and by increasing
funding to companies that want to invest. In addition, only
a quarter of Africa's population has access to electricity.
Public-private investments in hydropower would offer a
carbon-neutral solution.
“Loan guarantees by the U.S. Export-Import Bank for American
firms wishing to invest in Africa amounted to $400 million
in 2007. That year, China's Export-Import Bank guaranteed
loans of $13 billion to Chinese firms investing in Africa.
Closing this gap would do much to project Africa as an
investment-grade destination.”
The joint statement said: “In extractive industries, U.S.
companies should be encouraged to change the practice of
building extensive private rail, power and port assets that
remain detached from the host country's often sparse
infrastructure network.
“Ultimately, Africa's quality of life will depend on the
health of its citizens. The centrepiece of U.S. support for
HIV/AIDS in Africa - the (US) President's Emergency Plan for
AIDS Relief - has helped (to) expand life-saving treatment.
President Obama has an opportunity to make PEPFAR more
effective by moving from emergency to long-term support - as
in the Millennium Challenge Corporation's five-year
partnership model, with each country taking ownership of the
design of its programmes.
“Finally, we need more effective and predictable development
lending. The U.S. remains the main exception to the common
donor practice of channeling development assistance through
financial systems of recipient countries. Done with
sufficient safeguards, this strengthens country ownership,
responsibility and accountability.
The Four Presidents said: “The U.S.'s reluctance to embrace
shared multilateral approaches limits the impact of its
foreign assistance.
“President Obama's charisma, oratory and heritage have
excited Africa as never before. Now substantive action that
realizes the promise of his visit needs to be on Secretary
Clinton's agenda during her visit to seven African
countries,”the Four Presidents said.
GNA
