Madam, – Kofi Annan advised African leaders to “shape up” to their responsibilities in the face of the current global recession (“Consequences of ‘financial tsunami’ affecting globe loom large for Africa, June 15th).
I am glad that Mr Annan has finally conceded the fact that corruption is Africa’s greatest obstacle to development.
Corruption is the most urgent issue that African nations must face. It compounds poverty, hunger, illness and the abuse of human rights. It prevents people from freeing themselves from the desperate cycle that many African nations have been in for so long.
The real cause behind Africa’s under-development is corruption, which, it is estimated, costs Africa about $150 billion each year.
Corruption is a matter of life and death for the poor; a situation of such proportion that it now amounts to gargantuan and ongoing humanitarian disaster.
Corruption not only erodes the effectiveness of aid, literally taking food out of the mouths of the starving, but inhibits trade to poor areas. Mr Annan’s comments, at the launch of a report which urges Africa to drive its own development, are indicative of an acceptance of this fact.
It is time for corrupt leaders in Africa to be made answerable to their people and the international community should be a driving force behind such a move. – Yours, etc,