Africa 'must seize this opportunity'
Zibonele Ntuli
20 July 2005
British High Commissioner Paul Boateng says aid alone is not enough for Africa, but that fair trade and debt relief underpinned by good governance will help rebuild the continent.
Speaking at the Africa Dialogue lecture series at the University of Pretoria on Tuesday, Boateng said Africa was on the right track towards improving itself, as most countries in the sub-Sahara had democratic elections.
Speaking about the outcomes of the recent G8 summit in Scotland and its implications for Africa, Boateng said this was a moment of opportunity for Africa.
"[Africa's] leaders have embraced a new vision for the continent's future which recognises their leading role in addressing the challenges and realising its opportunities," Boateng said.
"The question of resources remains a vital one. Resources by themselves are not enough. What is equally clear is that while resources are central to the issue of aid, aid by itself is not enough. We have to
address the issue of debt and in some way the issue of trade.
"Without good governance, without transparency and accountability, creating a context in which aid, trade and debt relief are able to work to deliver growth all of these all the rest will be in vain," he said.
Referring to the G8's pledge to increase aid to Africa to US$25-billion a year by 2010, and global development aid to $50-billion, the high commissioner said these were hard commitments.
"I don't think anyone can say this does not represent a substantial commitment. These are hard ... commitments. Some were made in the run-up to the Gleneagles [summit]. But all are additional to today's aid levels."
Earlier, the G7 finance ministers committed to writing off $40-billion in debt owed by highly indebted countries, 14 of which are in Africa.
Boateng said the report by British Prime Minister Tony Blair's Commission for Africa had helped the G8 leaders at Gleneagles to reach their
decision.
The scale of resources to be applied was real, he said. Africa now needed to focus on delivery, peace keeping and peer reviewing, fighting corruption, and ensuring that by 2015 all of its children have access to education and health care.
"These are specifics, clear unambiguous pledges and commitments, all arising from work taking place within Africa and reflecting the analysis of the Commission and its programme of consultation within the continent.
"They are not generalisations, there is nothing vague with them, we know what needs to be done, and the challenge is to get involved in delivery," Boateng said, adding that fulfilling these commitments would required partnerships between business, civil society and government.
Source: BuaNews
| 
