Between December 2001 and June 2002, African leaders and their delegations rushed frantically to put together action plans so as to engage the leaders of the G-8 industrialised powers. African leaders put together actions plans on infrustructural development, debt relief, market access, and capacity development. African leaders also finalised their Political Good Governance and Economic and Finance Good Governance Peer Review Mechanisms. The hope was that, with demonstrating seriousness on their part, the G-8 would respond by showing commitment to the principles and practice of mutual responsibility and mutual accountability. In other words the G-8 would make commitments in favour of debt relief, OAD reform, market access, and resources for capacity building and consolidation.
However, if the outcome of the June 2002 G-8 Summit in Kananaskis is anything to go by, then two problems are clearly exposed: a gap between promise and delivery on the part of western powers; and a clear unwillingness to engage in mutual accountability; a process through which both Africans and industrialised powers will have to live up to commitments made.
When considering the G-8-Africa Action Plan that was adopted at the Kananaskis Summitvii, the G-8 merely stated that they would be 'looking for ways' to help Africa resolve conflicts; offer technical and financial assistance to sub-regional organisations for capacity development; assist in combating illicit weapons; assist to help combat corruption and embezzlement; help to bridge the digital divide and the use of technology for socio-economic and political development; support access for African agricultural products; etc.
The G-8 countries were deliberately vague in the commitments they madeviii. They were particularly non-committal on issues pertaining to debt cancellation, market access, infrastructural development and improved ODA. Indeed, the lack of concrete commitments on the part of the G-8 was pronounced. There was not even talk of the important idea of a Peer Review Mechanism for the G-8 so as to ensure that they are held accountable to deliver on the promises made.
Footnote:
- See G-8-Africa Action Plan, G-8 Kananaskis Summit, Canada 2002.
- For a critique of the G-8 Africa Action Plan, see the comments by some OECD countries even before the summit. These are contained in the 17 May 2002 reports of the NEPAD Steering Committee and Personal Representatives meting, held in Maputo, Mozambique.
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