African leaders meet heads of G8 over pledges for aid

Source: Agencies  |   2008-7-8  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

LEADERS of the G8 talked with African heads of state at a luxury hotel yesterday as activists accused the rich nations' club of going back on pledges to double aid to the world's poorest continent.

The issue of African poverty that tops the agenda at the start of a three-day summit in Japan is closely linked with rising food and fuel prices.

Seven African leaders were invited to join the opening day of the annual summit on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.

The G8 group - the United States, Japan, France, Britain, Germany, Canada, Italy and Russia - met leaders of Algeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania.

In 2005 in Gleneagles, Scotland, the G8 agreed to double aid by 2010 to US$50 billion, half of which would go to Africa. But a report last month by the Africa Progress Panel, which was set up to monitor the Gleneagles commitments, said that the G8 will fall US$40 billion short of its target.

"There are good plans being developed. We also know when efforts are made, great results can be achieved. But the problem is these plans are not being backed by serious financing," said Oliver Buston, a spokesman for activist group ONE.

Poverty goals

"It's as if the G8 has built a car but they have not put any fuel in it. It's time for that to change."

This year marks the halfway point to reach eight Millennium Development Goals set by the UN General Assembly in September 2000 to reduce world poverty by 2015.

Japanese Foreign Ministry press spokesman Kazuo Kodama acknowledged on Sunday that Africa was well behind target on health, but added: "G8 leaders will certainly deliver a strong and concrete message to help African countries to achieve the goals."

With grain prices having doubled since January 2006, Africa needs more help, not less, activists say.