O’Neill, Bono Differ on Needs of Poor

Three days into their tour of Africa, U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul H. O’Neill and rock singer Bono staked out opposing positions Wednesday on whether private enterprise or more aid was best to help the world’s most impoverished continent.

As O’Neill’s entourage, shepherded by Secret Service agents, pushed its way through the smiling throng in the teeming Makola market here in Ghana’s capital, the Treasury chief said he saw all the signs of a potential business class.

Noting the displays of colorful cloth and textiles piled high in rickety stalls, O’Neill said they were “Made in Ghana” products that could sell anywhere.

“You could make micro-loans to people like these, and they could be on their way,” said O’Neill, an ardent advocate of private enterprise to reduce poverty and create jobs.

But Bono, frontman of the rock group U2 who has taken to heart the issue of debt relief for impoverished countries and increased aid, said it was impossible to talk about fostering business without decent roads, electricity and basic services.

Bono also warned that popular support for the U.S. could quickly turn into anger if Washington--which fears that dispossessed Africans could be easy recruits for terrorist groups--did nothing to alleviate the continent’s poverty.

“We are driving down the streets and people are waving, people are jumping up and down, they are glad to see the United States,” Bono said. “If this country doesn’t get help ... you come back in five years and they’ll be throwing rocks at the bus.”

In a U.N. ranking of human development, Ghana, a former British colony, sits at 119 out of 162 countries.