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With
a projected $25-billion destined Africa's way annually, head
of the Commission for Africa's secretariat Myles Wickstead sounded
a call to African leaders to work towards capacitating their
countries for radical development.
He said lack of political will and capacity to absorb increased aid
posed a single biggest threat in implementing the report's
recommendations that depended on Africa's readiness to embrace good
governance, speed up service delivery, fight corruption, boast
economic growth while tackling conflicts.
Speaking to reporters in Pretoria last week on the challenges
facing Africa, global financial bodies and the rich countries in
"translating the report into action", Wickstead argued that for
Africa to achieve development, it would need not only Western
support but also strong democratic governments and skilled labour
force.
This requires African governments to strengthen education; health
and governance systems to respond to what he said were "ridiculous"
debt, unfair international trade policies and loan conditionalities
that threatened development.
Political commentators have however questioned Africa's capacity to
deliver on all recommendations, arguing that with increased aid,
many African countries would find it difficult to implement many
due to lack of administrative and technical expertise.
President Thabo Mbeki first raised the concern urging his African
counterparts to prioritise capacity building initiatives both
nationally and regionally to enable Africa address its
socio-economic needs.
Wickstead however urged African leaders to mount pressure on
international community to cut massive African debt, help curb
corruption in the region, invest in people's health, education
while promoting improve trade.
"We must insist that the international community must act on
recommendations if Africa is to take its place in the world," he
said, voicing out concern that Africa is the only continent that
"lack behind in achieving the Millennium development goals". -
BuaNews.
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