Media Statement, 10th March 2008

The Government should review urgently its aid policy to Tanzania, following the news today that another country, this time Finland, intends to freeze part of its direct budget funding over suspicions of corruption.

That’s the view of GOAL, the humanitarian agency, which in a statement said, “A number of European nations are becoming increasingly concerned at the level of corruption among African Governments.

But our Government keeps its head solidly in the sand, refusing to accept that institutionalised corruption is the biggest obstacle to the safe delivery of aid to the poorest of the poor”.

Ireland is a major contributor to the Tanzanian aid budget, and will probably direct somewhere in the region of €40 million through the Tanzanian government authorities in the coming year.

Two extensive cases of corruption were uncovered in Tanzania this Spring. An audit of the countries central bank uncovered discrepancies worth $110 million dollars while another case involved over charging for electricity, using dummy corporations.

For further information contact:

John O’Shea
Mobile: 086 852 7427