World Bank Boss Nominee To Lobby Ghana

WASHINGTON — Robert Zoellick, U.S. President George W. Bush's nominee to head the World Bank, is on his way to Ghana to lobby the government for the job.

The man who replaces ousted Paul Wolfowitz said he wants to hear directly from governments about their development priorities.

"I want to leave no stone unturned in showing people I am serious in reaching out and hearing their perspectives. It shows courtesy and respect," the former deputy secretary of state told reporters during a call before he left for Ghana, his first stop in Africa.

Zoellick is expected to meet vice president Aliu Mahama, since President Kufuor is ou of the country.

After his stop in Ghana, the current holder of the African Union's revolving presidency, Zoellick is to visit Ethiopia and South Africa. He then planned to travel to Britain, France, Germany and Norway. Finally, visits are planned to Mexico and Brazil before returning to the United States.

Mr. Zoellick, also a former U.S. trade representative, is likely to be confirmed as the next World Bank president this month. He has been praised for his roles in global trade talks and as Washington's point man on the humanitarian crisis in Darfur and relations with China.

He would succeed Paul Wolfowitz, a senior official in both Bush administrations and an architect of the Iraq war, who resigned last month amid an ethics scandal involving a high-paid promotion for his female companion.

According to reliable sources the travel agenda and listening tour Zoellick has embarked upon would have been completely global if the U.S. government had sprung for a plane -- but it seems that the U.S. government may be skittish about doing too many favors for the next World Bank president given the trouble that Paul Wolfowitz got in for getting employment favors and help from the Pentagon and State Department for his girlfriend.

Most recently, Zoellick was a vice chairman at Goldman Sachs.

WASHINGTON — Robert Zoellick, U.S. President George W. Bush's nominee to head the World Bank, is on his way to Ghana to lobby the government for the job.

The man who replaces ousted Paul Wolfowitz said he wants to hear directly from governments about their development priorities.

"I want to leave no stone unturned in showing people I am serious in reaching out and hearing their perspectives. It shows courtesy and respect," the former deputy secretary of state told reporters during a call before he left for Ghana, his first stop in Africa.

Zoellick is expected to meet vice president Aliu Mahama, since President Kufuor is ou of the country.

After his stop in Ghana, the current holder of the African Union's revolving presidency, Zoellick is to visit Ethiopia and South Africa. He then planned to travel to Britain, France, Germany and Norway. Finally, visits are planned to Mexico and Brazil before returning to the United States.

Mr. Zoellick, also a former U.S. trade representative, is likely to be confirmed as the next World Bank president this month. He has been praised for his roles in global trade talks and as Washington's point man on the humanitarian crisis in Darfur and relations with China.

He would succeed Paul Wolfowitz, a senior official in both Bush administrations and an architect of the Iraq war, who resigned last month amid an ethics scandal involving a high-paid promotion for his female companion.

According to reliable sources the travel agenda and listening tour Zoellick has embarked upon would have been completely global if the U.S. government had sprung for a plane -- but it seems that the U.S. government may be skittish about doing too many favors for the next World Bank president given the trouble that Paul Wolfowitz got in for getting employment favors and help from the Pentagon and State Department for his girlfriend.

Most recently, Zoellick was a vice chairman at Goldman Sachs.