Wednesday, October 24, 2007

NOI: compatible roles?

Former Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was appointed the Chair of the African and Nigerian Advisory Boards of Renaissance Capital on the 2nd October. Two days later, she was appointed the Managing Director of the World Bank. Is there a potential conflict between her role advising a company that focuses its business on tax havens and her work on Stolen Assets Recovery? The Tax Justice Network thinks so.

Culled from a recent article on Africa Confidential:

"Ekaterina Isaeva, Spokeswoman for Renaissance, confirmed that Okonjo-Iweala 'still chairs' the Moscow-based financial services group's high-profile advisory committees. She said Renaissance could not comment on how her work with Renaissance might impact on her new role at the World Bank. After repeated calls, Amy Stillwell at the World Bank declined any comment."

3 comments:

Anonymous,  11:38 pm  

There are potential conflicts in all manners of things Okonjo-Iweala delves in. With her position in the World Bank past and present, she is one of those who have helped stitch up Africa. She's not the angel of mercy she is often portrayed as.

The new appointments for instance will make sure that the Africa bargaining side of her remit remains a toothless one.

Anonymous,  3:42 pm  

Absolute tosh!

Dr Okonjo-Iweala is a passionate advocate of the trade not aid argument of getting Africa to stand on its own 2 feet.

I suggest you go and listen to the talk that she gave at TED (www.ted.com). I'm sure you'll be a bit more informed after that.

I wish there more people like her. Africa would certainly not be in the doldrums it is in now.

Anonymous,  9:10 pm  

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA...

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