Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien gave what I consider to be an
outstanding speech on Africa as part of the World Economic Forum events in
NewYork on Friday. He spoke eloquently and passionately about the grave human
problems our continent is facing, but perhaps more importantly Mr Chretien
outlined a very practical set of initiatives that would begin by addressing
basic societal needs like education and health and culminate in fully
integrating the continent into global commerce as a meaningful partner. He
said wealthy nations not only have a moral obligation to help Africans emerge
from under poverty but it also made good economic sense since a healthy and
productive continent would also be a viable trading partner. He spoke about a
G8 initiative tasked to Canada that is working on developing a broad strategy
on Africa with the aim of fully engaging governments on a genuine quest to
transform the very negative trends that seem to characterize most of our
nations. He said on a parallel track, the government of Canada was embarking
on an ambitious plan that would continue it's debt relief programs and has
made a special appropriation of $500million in it's current budget to
facilitate economic and other reforms to African countries. He said he is
determined to work with his fellow G8 leaders on this very important agenda
and make sure that urgent action is taken. However he also stressed that any
lasting solutions would hinge on active participation of the African leaders
themselves. They must create a governance environment that is based on the
rule of law, democracy and respect for the human rights of their own people.
He said this was the only way aid and the rudiments of a market economy can
take shape and ultimately lift people from abject poverty. With such a basic
prerequisite, I am saddened that Mr Chretien and his colleagues at the G8
would find precious few partners in our continent. African leaders are for
the most the only and biggest hindrance to the well being of their countries
and people. It is an assortment of tyrants and incompetent bafoons who hang
like albatrosses on their nations and have neither the inclination nor the
ability to recognise the price their people and by extension the whole world
is paying for their recalcitrance and viciousness. Meanwhile other thirdworld
countries with similar needs in Asia and Latin American are eagerly forging
partnerships and working tirelessly to ameliorate the difficult existence of
their people. Development partners increasingly recognize the relative ease
and value in helping people whose leaders genuinely care about them. In our
corner of our beleaguered continent, Mr Chretien will find  eager and genuine
partners in Mr Wade of Senegal, Mr Kufor of Ghana and Mr Obasanjo. In Yahya
Jammeh, Charles Taylor, Kumba Yalla, Lansana Conteh and Blaise Campoare, he
will find unworthy retrogrades who are at the heart of the continent's bleak
outlook.
Karamba

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