German development minister lauds African progress on corruption

from Earthtimes

African states are making progress on combating corruption, German Development Aid Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul has told a conference in Algiers, according to a statement released by her ministry in Berlin Tuesday. The African Peer Review Mechanism, an initiative aimed at curbing corruption, currently had 27 member states and more were considering joining, Wieczorek-Zeul said in the Algerian capital at the close of the 9th Africa Partnership Forum.

"Greater transparency is being achieved through this mechanism," she said.

Under the mechanism, the governments of the member countries provide information to their populations on reforms and the use of international aid and private investment.

In return, the Group of Eight (G8) countries - Germany holds the G8 presidency this year - provide a detailed account of their contributions.

Wieczorek-Zeul said funds from international donors were urgently needed for Africa's development and pledged that these funds would be doubled by 2010.

But she also noted that the African continent was achieving average economic growth rates of well above 5 per cent.

"Political reforms have led to stable democracy in more countries and the alleviation of poverty is progressing," Wieczorek-Zeul said.

"It is encouraging to see how our joint efforts for Africa are showing success," she said.

Chancellor Angela Merkel has made combating poverty and disease in Africa a central theme of her G8 presidency, but has stressed the need for transparency in how donor funds are spent and the need for good governance.

Germany hands the G8 presidency to Japan at the end of the year.