Letter to the Editor, Irish Daily Mail, 17th July 2007

The international humanitarian organisation, GOAL, sincerely welcomes the appointment of Robert Zoellick as president of the World Bank, particularly since he has so quickly made it clear how combating corruption will be a top priority of his stewardship. Mr Zoellick was quoted as calling corruption a 'cancer on development', and, just as surely as cancer prevents healthy cells from receiving what-they need to survive, so does corruption prevent the basic staples and services from reaching those who most desperately need it in the developing world.

Mr Zoellick is correct in saying that in order for Africa to be brought up to the levels of development currently being enjoyed by its Asian and South American peers, everyone with an interest in that acceleration needs to work in co-operation and mutual respect.

If Mr Zoellick is to be as serious about Africa as Africa so desperately needs him to be, he must be completely unafraid to tackle the many vested interests in keeping that continent subservient.

JOHN O'SHEA,
GOAL