A voluntary programme to promote greater transparency in oil, gas and mining may have entrenched devious ways of concealing bribes and other forms of corruption. Mark Thomas looks at this initiative and shows how corrupt governments and private companies circumvent it. Africa is teeming with oil, diamonds, gas, platinum, gold and other minerals. Despite this wealth, it remains the world’s poorest continent. Nearly half of sub-Saharan Africa’s population live in countries that are rich in these natural resources, according to the World Bank. These countries account for some 70% of Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) and receive the overwhelming bulk…
