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R/£ World Bank president praises Benin
July 20, 2006 Edition 1
COTONOU: World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz praised Benin yesterday as a democratic example that other countries in West Africa could learn from.
Visiting the small, cotton- dependent country on an African tour, Wolfowitz met President Thomas Boni Yayi, a former head of the West African Development Bank, and congratulated him on his election in March.
"The country is an example of democracy and peaceful transfer of power in Africa.
"It is an important example, especially for West Africa which has seen too many conflicts in recent years," Wolfowitz said on arriving in the main city Cotonou. The elections marked the end of an era dominated by former coup leader Mathieu Kerekou. Kerekou, who ruled Benin for all but five of the past 33 years, stood down after two terms in line with constitutional limits introduced in the 1990s.
Wolfowitz said he hoped to learn about the challenges facing Yayi's government, who has promised to foster a spirit of enterprise to boost economic growth and fight high unemployment.
During his visit, he is expected to discuss how to increase production in the important cotton sector.
Benin has been a leading critic of rich countries' tariffs and subsidies, such as Washington's payments to US cotton farmers, which it says distort world prices and keep millions of West Africans who depend on growing cotton poor.
Wolfowitz is also expected to raise matters of accountability and corruption, long-standing problems in Benin and other countries in West Africa. He said the World Bank was ready to help Benin, but the country would need to take responsibility for itself for aid to be effective.
His tour has already taken in Ethiopia, Tanzania and Nigeria, and he is due to continue this week to Sierra Leone, Liberia and Ghana. - Reuters
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