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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