Open Letter To President Obama

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We, the African civil society leaders of Publish What You Pay, a global coalition campaigning for an open

and accountable gas, oil and mining sector, are addressing you on the eve of the US – Africa Leaders

We are addressing you as concerned citizens, forced to see their countries cheated out of revenues as

illicit financial flows drain Africa of its resources. Because of trade mispricing, opacity and secrecy

jurisdictions our continent has lost out on more than $1 trillion over the last 30 years. Africa is

generating revenues, but many of these flow to the pockets of rich corporations and individuals rather

than back to citizens. It shouldn?t be this way.

We are addressing you as worried parents, who fear that by the time our grandchildren grow up our

country?s natural resources will have been depleted and we will have little to show for it. Our natural

resources are an opportunity for us to create better lives for our future generations, but if good

governance does not prevail that chance will be squandered. And with oil, gas and mining, the one

chance is all you get.

We are addressing you as committed Africans and credible civil society actors that engage in good

governance. Despite the difficulties there is a growing movement for good governance across our

continent. Countries are joining, and successfully implementing, standards such as the Extractive

Industries Transparency Initiative. They are taking ownership of natural resource management,

incorporating the Africa Mining Vision and providing the continent with its own framework. We are

building up expectations that the government has a role to manage natural resources in an accountable

and transparent manner. But we, as civil society, need a guaranteed space and platform so that we can

You once said that ?Africa?s future is up to Africans?; and that is all we ask. We are fighting every day to

change our future. Every day, we risk arrest and intimidation to bring the issue of natural resources into

the open. Where once silence reigned people now debate in the streets how their revenues should be

managed. But the extractive sector has many players and there is only so much civil society can do

within the current confines of the game. The US and other developed countries, as well as international

extractive companies, profit hugely from the sector and the rules play to their advantage. They have

their role to play too.

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Publish What You Pay ? Ghana

No. C842/4, Wawa Street, Kokomlemle

P. O. Box MP 2989 Mamprobi, Accra Ghana

Tel: +233-302-254918 Fax: 233-21-253-613

 

 

 

We are not asking for your charity ? we are asking for a level playing field. We see the US – Africa

Leaders Summit as a crucial opportunity for all parties to make concrete commitments to enhancing

extractive governance. We are calling on our governments to commit to an open and transparent

bidding process for the allocation of extractive contracts and licenses, including the publication of

contracts. We are calling on our governments to commit to creating open budgeting processes, so that

we can ensure extractive revenues are responsibly spent. We also ask them to include beneficial

ownership declaration forms in procurement and contracts.

We are conscious that our governments cannot act alone.
We have called on our governments. Today Mr. President, we respectfully call on you.
It has been more than four years since you signed the Dodd-Frank Act, section 1504 of which obliges all

US listed extractive companies to publish the payments they make. This law will yield crucial data that

can help us hold our governments to account, but it has yet to come into effect. We ask you to urge the

SEC for a swift publication of the rules governing section 1504 to ensure that they are in line with recent

EU legislation and the emerging global standard for extractive transparency.

The US once led on the issue of extractive transparency, we ask you to reclaim that mantle and commit

to working with other G7/G20 countries to adopt and implement measures similar to Dodd-Frank 1504

and the EU Transparency & Accounting Directives.

We call on you to commit to strengthening multilateral rules on taxation to clamp down on trade

mispricing and abusive transfer pricing, to help ensure that African countries at least have a fighting

chance to profit from their resources.

Finally, we ask you to commit to creating a public registry of corporate beneficial ownership

information. Countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Tanzania

and Zambia are implementing this as part of the EITI standard and the UK committed to doing so as part

of the G7 Tax Trade and Transparency agenda. We are looking at US leadership to follow suit.

Africa has the necessary resources to forge its own destiny. However we need to change the global

system that stacks the odds against us. The revolution for open government and transparency has

begun, we call on you to help us complete it.

Yours Respectfully,
Publish What You Pay Africa Steering Committee
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Publish What You Pay ? Ghana

No. C842/4, Wawa Street, Kokomlemle

P. O. Box MP 2989 Mamprobi, Accra Ghana

Tel: +233-302-254918 Fax: 233-21-253-613

 

Representatives of the PWYP Africa Steering Committee
Taran Diallo, Publiez ce Que Vous Payez Guinee-Conakry

Ali Idrissa, R?seau des Organisations pour la Transparence et Analyse Budg?taire / PCQVP Niger

Bubelwa Kaiza, FORDIA Publish What You Pay, Tanzania

Jean-Claude Katende, Publiez Ce Que Vous Payez, DR Congo

Gilbert Maoundonodji, Publiez Ce Que Vous Payez, Chad

Steve Manteaw, Publish What You Pay, Ghana

Faith Nwadishi, Publish What You Pay Nigeria

African Representatives on the PWYP Global Steering Committee
Marc Ona, Brainforest Publiez ce Que Vous Payez Gabon

Cecilia Mattia, National Advocacy Coalition for Extractives, Sierra Leone

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Publish What You Pay ? Ghana

No. C842/4, Wawa Street, Kokomlemle

P. O. Box MP 2989 Mamprobi, Accra Ghana

Tel: +233-302-254918 Fax: 233-21-253-613

 

The American President, Barrack Obama will from August 4 ? 6 host leaders from across the African continent in Washington DC to discuss trade and development cooperation issues between the two blocks. This is the first time the US is convening such a meeting, and it?s seen by many as America?s response to the Chinese and European efforts to obtain favourable access to the continent?s rich natural resources. The Summit is expected to build on the President?s trip to Africa in the summer of 2013 and intended to strengthen ties between the United States and one of the world?s most dynamic and fastest growing regions.

The theme of the Summit is “Investing in the Next Generation;” and running through it, is a commitment on the part of the US administration to cementing its ties with Africa beyond the current generation, through long term investments and trade partnerships which build on the Africa Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) initiative.

Program of Events

Throughout the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, African leaders will have an opportunity to engage with President Obama, his Cabinet members, and other key leaders, including business executives from the U.S. and Africa, Members of Congress, and members of civil society.

Discussions will center on how to encourage progress in key areas that Africans define as critical for the future of the continent: expanding trade and investment ties, engaging young African leaders, promoting inclusive sustainable development, expanding cooperation on peace and security, and gaining a better future for Africa?s next generation.

The Summit will include six U.S. Government-sponsored ?Signature Events,? allowing for in-depth conversations on some of the most pressing issues facing the U.S.-Africa partnership. These sessions will set the stage for the high-level discussions that President Obama will chair during the subsequent Summit leader meetings.

Faith Works Signature Event

The ?Faith Works: Honoring the Contributions of the Faith Community to Peace and Prosperity in Africa? Signature Event will be the first official event of the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit and will take place in the morning of August 1. The session will bring together a diverse cross-section of religious leaders and faith-based organizations, U.S. Government officials, and African leaders to recognize the significant role the faith community plays in advancing peace, prosperity, and development throughout Africa. The event is also an opportunity for the faith community to provide input into the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit. Across Africa, faith-based organizations have helped to lift vulnerable populations out of squalor and have contributed to improving lives. From building peace and promoting human rights, to improving agriculture; from boosting literacy rates, to providing urgently needed relief and assistance in the most dangerous places.

Encounter with Civil Society

A “Civil Society Forum” Signature Event is planned for the morning of August 4 by Secretary of State Kerry and will bring together U.S. and African government leaders, members of African and U.S. civil society and the diaspora, and private sector leaders. The Forum will focus on leveraging the knowledge and experience of citizens and civil society to solve the key challenges of our time, and will highlight the importance of civic space to social entrepreneurship, civic innovation and development. The Forum will also highlight the importance of safeguarding civic space in order to spur social entrepreneurship, civic innovation, and development. The Forum will consist of three components: a set of thematic breakout sessions on key issues, including governance and transparency, trade and investment, and labor issues; a keynote address; and a Global Town Hall with African Leaders moderated by Secretary Kerry. In addition, interested parties will also have the opportunity to submit short video questions via YouTube and Twitter in advance of the Forum.

Taking care of Women?s Interests

The “Investing in Women, Peace, and Prosperity” Signature Event will recognize that African women?s leadership and meaningful participation at all levels, in government, the economy, and civil society, accelerates economic development, improves health and educational indicators; advances democratic development, and improves the safety and security of all citizens. The discussion will underscore the importance of supporting African women?s leadership and meaningful participation across all sectors of society. It will specifically highlight promising practices and reinforce U.S.-African partnerships in expanding economic opportunity for women, promoting civic and political leadership for women and girls, and increasing women?s meaningful roles in conflict prevention, peace-building, and security decision-making.

The AGOA Forum
To further demonstrate America?s commitment to sustainable economic growth and development in Africa, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman will host the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Ministerial at the World Bank. African and U.S. trade officials will discuss the future of the AGOA programme as U.S. plans to pursue renewal of the AGOA legislation.

 

 

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