Hillary Clinton Tells Africa: Good Governance + Stability = Economic Prosperity

President Kibaki With Secretary Clinton and Prime Minister Odinga

Secretary Clinton And President Kibaki

President Kibaki With Secretary Clinton and Prime Minister Odinga

Hillary Clinton, the U.S. Secretary of State has said  investors will shun African states with weak leaders and economies riddled with corruption and crime. She was speaking at a trade meeting with sub-Saharan African countries.  Clinton repeated  U.S. President Barack  Obama’s message  in a speech in Ghana. “True economic progress in Africa, depends on responsible governments that reject corruption, enforce the rule of law and deliver results for their people. This is not just about good governance, this is about good business,” Clinton said at the meeting.

“Investors will be attracted to states that do this. And they will not be attracted to states with failed or weak leadership, or crime and civil unrest, or corruption that taints every transaction and decision.”

In a video message after Clinton spoke, Obama, whose father was Kenyan, said: “Only Africans can unlock Africa’s potential.”

“Open markets alone are not enough. Development requires the rule of law, transparency, accountability, and an atmosphere that welcomes investment,” he said. Kenya, which is east Africa’s biggest economy, was ranked by Transparency International last month as the region’s most graft-prone nation. It said a bribe was expected or solicited in nearly half of all transactions. Washington is looking at ways to boost trade with the 48 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, which accounts for little more than 1 percent of U.S. exports and only 3 percent of imports.

© 2009, Newstime Africa. All rights reserved.