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21st September, 2007
Dr. Mo Ibrahim,
President,
Mo Ibrahim Foundation and Celtel International
Summary of Speech, Christ Church, Oxford
Africa is moving forward with solid economic growth in the last 6 years averaging 5% and with more democratic elections taking place. We still have a few flash points of conflict, for example, Darfur, Somalia etc so we are not there yet but we are moving forward steadily.
There is no doubt that Africa’s image in the Western media is much worse than reality. On one hand conflicts/famines/bad behaviour by an Africa leader makes interesting news. In addition, NGO’s campaign for funds will naturally focus on a painful and sad image ‘the starving African child’.
In Celtel, we managed to build 15 telephone networks in Sub-Sahara Africa in a strictly transparent and honest manner and proved in the process you don’t have to pay bribes.
On the subject of bribes, it amazes me that while the issue of corruption and bribery in Africa is a popular subject in the Western media, among the politicians in the West, I am not aware of a single prosecution of a Western company or business for corruption in Africa. Probably it is just that the Africans are bribing themselves!
For a brief introduction of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation for governance and leaders in Africa, please visit our website: www.moibrahimfoundation.org.
