Africa Action: Financial Reports and Next Steps - A Statement from the Africa Action Board of Directors

June, 2012


In December of 2010, we reported that Africa Action had suffered a financial crisis as a result of embezzlement. In the aftermath of that crisis all programmatic operations were halted and most all of the staff were let go. Following the revelations of the financial crime, the Board adopted new internal procedures to prevent a reoccurrence of such crimes, ordered a financial forensic audit and committed itself to a plan of action that was aimed at saving the organization and allowing it to eventually resume operations. The Board continues to implement this plan and while we still have much more to do, we have taken a number of key steps along the way with the support of our allies.

The good news is that those of us on the board believe the end is now in sight. The auditors have completed their work on the finances for 2008 and 2009 and have submitted a draft audit document for 2010. They have informed us that we should have the final audit for 2010 by the end of July. We also expect to have the final forensic audit and a report on the management issues surrounding the fraud at that time. As part of our commitment to be fully transparent and accountable we will make these reports public. With these reports almost behind us, we are beginning to plan a process of consultation about the future political work of the organization.

The Board of Africa Action would like to once again thank all of Africa Action’s friends and supporters for their patience, commitment and faith in the organization and the issues that the organization has fought for over the last 50 plus years. This has been an incredibly difficult period both for those working directly on rebuilding the organization and for supporters who have had to watch and wait patiently from a distance. As a volunteer board, we have focused our attention first and foremost on the necessary internal, administrative issues.

The Board of Africa Action, with the support of the above advisory group, remains determined to take all the necessary measures to lead to a rebirth of a new and re-invigorated organization grounded in our historic commitment to promoting progressive policy and providing information and analysis on Africa to a diverse U.S. constituency.

Signed

Emira Woods, Chair

Adotei Akwei, Secretary

Ajamu Baraka

John Riggan

Makani Themba-Nixon