We will not reward failure in Africa - Dev.partners

Development partners say they will no longer reward failure on the continent anymore.

"Rather we will seek and be seen to be rewarding successful countries whose governments are moving to develop and promote democracy, good governance and peace and security," Mr Robert Fowler, Special Representative of the Canadian Prime Minister for Africa said in Accra on Monday.

"We believe that in aggregate half or more of our new development assistance could be directed to African nations that govern their people justly, invest in their own people and promote economic freedom," he told the Ghana News Agency (GNA).

Mr Fowler who said he was affirming the expressions of his fellow G8 members, made these comments just before leaving Accra after attending the Joint G8- NEPAD Steering Committee Meeting.

He also commented on concerns about the "enhanced partnership" adopted by the G8 members culminating in the G8 Africa Action Plan. The G8 Africa Action Plan is a document that endorses portion of the NEPAD Agreement, mostly those relating to good governance and peace and security.

Mr Fowler said aid has been going to African countries over the last 40 years, but so have conflicts and civil wars started by greed and misrule by their leaders in which innocent citizens have suffered.

"Now we want to ensure that we use the few success stories of countries which have shown signs and commitment to democracy and good governance as a flagship to those stuck in conflict," Mr Fowler said.

He explained that countries stuck in civil strife would, however, not be left in the cold. "For such countries, we will send in international humanitarian agencies to help restore hope to displaced persons. We will not channel funding through the governments anymore," he said.

He welcomed the Peer Review Mechanism by African leaders and described it as a very innovative means of ensuring that leaders and the ruled all subject themselves to one form of review or the other. This, he noted, will bring about more transparency and justice in African states.