Africa: is G8 another empty promises event?

Africa: G8 Must Fulfill All Promises

 

EDITORIAL
9 July 2008
Posted to the web 9 July 2008

As the G8 Summit draws to a close at Hokkaido in Japan, once again Africa expects to receive what has become known as more 'empty promises' from the rich nations.

In fact Africa had pegged high hopes on the summit as it takes place at a time when the world is faced with four key challenges including fuel and food crisis and climate change.

African leaders attending the summit led by AU chair, President Jakaya Kikwete, and activists gathered about 100 km away from Hokkaido, have accused the world's richest countries of reneging on pledges they made at their 2005 summit in Gleneagles, Scotland, to double aid by 2010 to $50 billion, half of which was to go to Africa. To date, a mere $3 has been delivered to the continent, citing alleged corruption as a stumbling block.

The summit is yet to offer new promises to poor countries although it has been hinted that rich nations would continue supporting Africa's agricultural sector, including small scale farmers. But no specific figure or time frame have been committed.

This is despite pleas by President Kikwete for G8 countries to help provide appropriate technology and inputs, especially seeds and fertilizers to make the African continent successfully tackle the food crisis. President Kikwete also urged the rich nations to help the countinent to improve its dilapidated infrastructure as a prerequisite to attaining strong economic growth and to reduce poverty.

Speaking along similar lines at a press conference in Hokkaido on Monday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon gave an idea of the gravity of problems facing Africa, noting that unless the donor community renewed commitment to assist poor countries, the situation could worsen.

In other worlds, G 8 leaders must ensure that previous promises are fulfilled as they can no longer afford to ignore Africa which is variously believed to be at the centre of the 21st century as a source of energy and oil resources.