Picture credit: Bible Society / Andrew Boyd
How to tackle the widespread problem of corruption is a key theme for this year's African Biblical Leadership Initiative (ABLI) forum, in Cameroon.
Leaders, young and old, are gathering in Cameroon’s capital, Yaoundé, from September 19 to 22. Their theme – leadership lessons in Africa: honouring the past, treasuring the present, shaping the future.
That future needs to be one that is free of corruption. The problem is endemic. According to Oxfam, as much as 30 per cent of Africa's financial wealth is believed to be held in offshore accounts. The cost to Africa is up to £10 billion in lost tax revenue every year.
And many multinational corporations are throwing fuel on the fire. A joint report by the African Development Bank and Global Financial Integrity found that up to 65 per cent of revenue disappeared in the commercial transactions made by global companies.
‘One of the key issues for ABLI is promoting integrity in public office’, says one of the conference organisers, Girma Mohammed, an International Advocacy Officer for Bible Society.
‘Corruption is the most neglected human right violation,’ he says. ‘It leaves lasting trauma in individuals, the family and society.’
ABLI is working to end that corruption by mobilising and equipping African Christian leaders to lead honest and exemplary lives. The annual forum, established in 2009, is an initiative of Bible Society. ABLI helps Christians to view their leadership role as a ministry to God and society.
The forum has found favour with African leaders because if society is harmonious and corruption-free, it will also be easier to govern.
ABLI brings churches together to work on their common mission, despite their denominational differences. And for ordinary citizens, ABLI creates a platform to sit together with their leaders and discuss the role of faith in working for the public good.
One of the keynote speakers in Cameroon will be Paul Williams, Bible Society's CEO, who will be exploring why Christian presence matters.
That presence is being challenged in parts of Africa, where religious tensions are growing as Islamist terrorism gains ground. So, a second major theme of ABLI is to foster social harmony in societies that have a range of religious and ethnic affiliations.
ABLI is also set to focus on Africa’s rising generation. More than 40 per cent of the population is below the age of 15, according to research.
‘Africa's youth can devote themselves to development or be turned into weapons of conflict and destruction – it all depends on the story they are told,’ says Girma Mohammed. ‘ABLI is committed to the idea that youth are not just our future leaders – but should be given a leadership role here and now.’
In past elections in Kenya, agitators have mobilised young people for violence. But that began to change after ABLI in Kenya in 2016. Christian youth worked to promote voting based on conscience and Christian values, rather than ethnic allegiances.
This had a positive effect in minimising youth being drawn into in political violence in the recent election.
Picture credit: Bible Society / Andrew Boyd
Andrew Boyd
