By Apolinari Tairo
Published April 25, 2020
An organisation that focuses on good governance and leadership in Africa has called for ‘Action From Africa’ in addressing the multiple, interconnected, and cumulative efforts to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic across Africa.
In its statement endorsing the ‘Call for Action’ from African and European leaders for the need for strong and collective leadership to tackle the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic across Africa, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation says that only through a global approach that includes Africa can the pandemic be defeated.
“We must indeed address … the need to strengthen Africa’s emergency health response capacity; share scientific knowledge and expertise to ensure the relevant humanitarian supply for the most affected communities,” the Foundation says.
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The Foundation has stressed the need for food security to shield Africans from hunger and starvation in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic, calling for a massive economic stimulus package and immediate debt relief.
Describing COVID-19 pandemic as a global crisis, the organisation says “Africa is facing a severe challenge” that will be solved only through “collective and coordinated efforts” as “This is a matter of shared interest.”
The organisation opines that the measures adopted by more developed countries, such as social distancing, public health campaigns, and generous financial support offered to people and businesses, cannot be easily replicated across Africa.
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Saying the pandemic shall hit Africa hard, destroying recent progress and making existing fragilities with all its consequences worse, Mo Foundation says it welcomes the recent appointment by the African Union of four COVID-19 Special Envoys: Donald Kaberuka, Trevor Manuel, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and Tidjane Thiam.
“These great African brothers and sisters are close friends of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, with Donald Kaberuka one of Mo Ibrahim Foundation’s Board members, and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala a member of the Foundation’s inaugural Prize Committee,” the organisation, that was established in 2006 with a focus on the importance of political leadership and public governance in Africa, says.
An eTurboNews article.
