Friday, June 25, 2010

We've been reading...

Global fund suspends funding due to corruption
Elias Mbao, allAfrica -- The Global Fund has suspended funding to Zambia's Ministry of Health because of fraud in the ministry. This is a second time that donors are freezing funding to the ministry in about one year. The Swedish and Dutch governments in May 2009 froze aid to the Ministry of Health following reports about embezzlement of public funds including monies from donors. According to a report issued by The Global Fund's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) after the 21st board meeting in Geneva held between April 28 and 30, 2010, the fund would not proceed with signing any new grants to the ministry until it was satisfied that the situation was under control.

No winner for this years Mo Ibrahim Foundation Award

Botswana Gazette --
The Prize Committee of the 2010 Mo Ibrahim Prize has taken a decision not to award the prize this year. Last year the Prize Committee announced that it had considered some credible candidates, but after in depth review could not select a winner. This year the Prize Committee told the Board that there had been no new candidates or new developments and that therefore no selection of a winner had been made. The Ibrahim Prize recognises and celebrates excellence in African leadership. The prize is awarded to a democratically elected former African Executive Head of State or Government who has served their term in office within the limits set by the country's constitution and has left office in the last three years.

Far From Gulf, a Spill Scourge 5 Decades Old
Adam Nossiter, NY Times -- Big oil spills are no longer news in this vast, tropical land. The Niger Delta, where the wealth underground is out of all proportion with the poverty on the surface, has endured the equivalent of the Exxon Valdez spill every year for 50 years by some estimates. The oil pours out nearly every week, and some swamps are long since lifeless. Perhaps no place on earth has been as battered by oil, experts say, leaving residents here astonished at the nonstop attention paid to the gusher half a world away in the Gulf of Mexico. It was only a few weeks ago, they say, that a burst pipe belonging to Royal Dutch Shell in the mangroves was finally shut after flowing for two months: now nothing living moves in a black-and-brown world once teeming with shrimp and crab.

World Bank endorses Africa's progress
Johnstone Ole Turana, Business Daily (Nairobi) -- Africa stands to gain from a new decision-making approach by the World Bank regarding investment priorities. The lender is ditching its Washington-based decision making and is opting for a platform where the key issues will be tackled through increased participation. It is expected to provide Africa with opportunity to rate its priorities and channel resources to critical areas such as infrastructure development. Previously, the Bank came up with uniform programmes for region with little appreciation of the diversity in terms of resource endowment, governance, and state of development. "Africa has undergone tremendous changes over the last decade and our engagement need to be in line with the new realities..."

Lites -- New!
Obama lauds Liberia leadership
Canada invites African leaders to G8 meeting


Go Black Stars!!

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