African leaders fighting corruption must be supported – Joyce Banda
Mrs. Joyce Banda, former President of Malawi, has called on the western world to support and motivate committed African leaders in the fight against corruption on the continent.
Mrs. Banda, who was speaking at the fourth John Evans Atta Mills Commemorative Lecture on Monday, said fighting corruption was one of the difficult challenges facing many presidents on the continent.
The lecture was organized by the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in partnership with Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) in furtherance of Professor Mills’ ideals and commitment to the advancement of law and governance in Ghana and across Africa.
The lecture, which was on the theme “Atta Mills the Servant Leader” was attended by many including diplomats, ministers of state, academics, political, traditional and religious leaders as well as family members.
She said corrupt Africans often operated from the West, but their practices were global and required a global response.
She said only a tighter, more responsive and highly co-ordinated action between law enforcement authorities in both developing nations and the world’s financial centres would be effective in the pursuit of this cause.
“We are doing everything we can to create a state built on transparency and the rule of law. Africa needs their support in this crusade because they allow people who steal our money from Africa to bank in their banks”.
She said it was hypocritical that criticisms came from them but monies meant for development, education and eradication of poverty in Africa was hidden in their banks adding that “they allow leaders who steal from this continent to buy big mansions in their countries”.
Mrs. Banda urged the western world to be on the alert to fish out corrupt Africans who stole money and saved it in their countries.
Eulogizing the late President Mills, she said he was an embodiment of a redefined leadership in the face of a changing world and urged African leaders to emulate his leadership qualities and personality.
The former Malawian President labeled him as “a transformative leader” whose inclusive policy contributed to the unity, integration and stability of not only Ghana but the ECOWAS Region and Africa as a whole.
“Atta Mills presents a different type of leadership, an epitome of new leadership and an embodiment of moral and servant leadership, exactly what Africa needs”, she said.
Mrs Banda said Atta Mills is a citizen of the world who lived a life of humility and dedicated his life to the development of education adding that his contribution to intellectual development all over the world is remarkable.
She said though dead, Atta Mills remained an oasis of knowledge where a lot could be drawn from to shape the political, social and economic lives of Africans.
Source: GNA