African Visit (Hansard, 11 February 2002)

§ The Prime Minister

I visited Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Senegal from 7-10 February. I was accompanied by the Secretary of State for International Development and my noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

The main purpose of my visit was to discuss with African leaders how to take forward the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NePAD) and the G8 Action Plan for Africa. I had fruitful discussions with Presidents Obasanjo, Kufuor, Kabbah and Wade. In an address to the National Assembly in Nigeria I was able to set out the need for a true partnership of shared responsibility and mutual interest between the developed world and Africa. I focused on peace and conflict resolution, good government, trade, growth, health and education—themes we were able to develop further during the visit. I also discussed with President Obasanjo the need for free and fair presidential elections in March in Zimbabwe.

I also addressed the National Parliament in Ghana and outlined the argument for a conception of aid as an investment in the future of Africa and the developed world. I visited the Ghana Armed Forces Staff College, where I met a number of African officers with experience of conflict resolution in Africa. At the Ghanaian Cocoa Research Institute in Tafo and at Suhun Co-operative I saw how Ghanaian farmers are seeking to improve cocoa production and increase the value they can add to their raw product in Ghana and discussed with them the consequences of globalisation.

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In Sierra Leone I saw the real and beneficial impact the UK's commitment to conflict resolution has had and how peace has been restored to a country whose democracy and stability were threatened by armed rebels. It was heartening to see the preparations for democratic elections this May. There is a long way to go, but the healing process is under way in Sierra Leone, in large part thanks to the role played by British and United Nations forces.

In Senegal I attended a seminar hosted by President Wade on the conditions necessary to achieve growth in Africa, with President Kufuor, Vice President Zuma of South Africa, and a number of experts on regional integration President Chirac's personal representative on Africa also participated. On Sunday I visited Ouakam Centre near Dakar for people infected with HIV. HIV/AIDS is having a devastating effect in Africa. But Senegal, which has succeeded in keeping prevalence low, is a beacon of hope. I expressed our continued support for the Global Health Fund.

This visit, as well as being an important expression of UK commitment to Africa, was important in deepening the dialogue with African leaders in the run-up to June's G8 Summit to be held in Canada where the partnership between the developed world and Africa would be a key issue.