Western Nations Aid Corruption

Ayodele Aminu (This Day)-Founder, Celtel Inter-national, Mohammed Ibrahim, has accused Western nations of aiding corruption in Africa. Ibrahim, who is also Chairman of Mo Foundation, said this yesterday in his presentation at the on-going Sub-Saharan Africa Investor Conference in London, sponsored by the Renaissance Group.

Specifically, he said contrary to insinuations that Africa alone should be blamed for corrupt practices, the Western nations cannot be absolved of helping corrupt officials from African continent to stach their stolen funds abroad.

He said it was mischievous for Western nations to continue to label Africa as the hotbed of corrupt practices, when banks like HSBC and businessmen continue to serve as conduit pipes for stolen funds from Africa.

While calling on international investors to take positions on Africa, he said some of the problems inhibiting economies of some African countries are traceable to the double standards of some governments in the European countries.

He said some Africans who looted the economies of their countries would not have succeeded, if not for the tremendous support offered by European countries that feed fat on such loots.

Ibrahim emphasised that while a number of officials in some African countries faced trials over involvement in fraud- related offences, no single indicted European had been made to face the music for their complicity in such fraudulent transactions.

Acknowledging that many African states have embraced the rule of law, Ibrahim lamented that most of the foreign collaborators in celebrated fraud cases involving Africans often go scot-free.

“How many European businesses have been prosecuted for corruption in Africa? No one has been made to face the music for his or her roles in corrupt practices in the African continent,” he queried.

He wondered why the affected European governments did not see anything bad in accepting stolen funds from corrupt African officials.

ìWhen these corrupt leaders steal their countryís money, they usually bring the illicit fund to Western nations where the banks keep them.

ìWe are all aware of the role of banks like HSBC and others in the repatriation of stolen money by corrupt African leaders. Has anything happened to any of these institutions when a bank like HSBC is keeping to launder some of these funds?, he asked.

He also dismissed the insinuations that no successful business could happen in Africa except bribe is given, stressing that his experience as an investor on the continent has proved such insinuations wrong.

He said it is erroneous for European business men and their governments to say that corruption and disregard for the rule of law are common features of Africa. He also said most of the corrupt cases in Africa have linkage with Europe.

He therefore urged organisations to develop the culture of anti-corruption, stressing that it is not enough to formulate laws, businessmen, he said, must follow it up with their insistence on implementation.

Citing Celtel as an example, Ibrahim said that the telecoms giant had right from inception vowed not to give bribe in the course of its dealings.

He said up till date, his organization has not been involved in any bribe scandal.

Confirming that his organization was instrumental to the recent dismissal of the former Vice-President of Zambia for corruption practices, this he said, has shown that Africa is ready to deal with the scourge of corruption.

He empahised that his foundation is geared towards encouraging good governance in Africa. He said time has come for the continent to be taken seriously by other members of the international community.

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