Scotland should stop sending millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money to Rwanda because it is now enjoying high levels of economic growth, according to a former SNP international development minister.
Ben Macpherson has urged the Scottish Government to consider winding up its activity in the east African country, which recorded a 9.4 per cent increase in annual economic output last year – nearly seven times higher than Scotland’s.
The Scottish Government is now spending £16million a year on ‘international development and humanitarian response’.
Between 2008 and 2014, it spent £13.4million directly in Rwanda, while a further £2.8million was committed over last year and this year.
At a meeting of Holyrood’s equalities, human rights and civil justice committee, Mr Macpherson, who was tertiary education minister until quitting last month and previously served as international development minister from 2018 to 2020, said: ‘You will be aware that the Scottish Government has international development schemes in Malawi, Zambia, Rwanda and Pakistan.
‘For some time, in order to focus resources, particularly in Malawi and Zambia, I have wondered whether it is time, given the economic growth and other considerations, for the Scottish Government to start stepping down and winding up its activity in Rwanda.’
Ben MacPherson was the former SNP international development minister
Rwanda is enjoying high levels of economic growth
Rwanda has been consistently recording high levels of annual increases in its gross domestic product (GDP) since the late 1990s.
The country’s national tourism agency has also been funding a lucrative international marketing campaign which sees its logo emblazoned on the shirts of European and American sports clubs, including Aston Villa and Arsenal in the English Premier League.
After Thursday’s meeting, Mr Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh North Eastern & Leith, confirmed that he wanted the Scottish Government to consider winding up current projects when existing funding commitments end in order to focus on other countries such as Malawi and Zambia.
But opposition politicians called for the money to be used on boosting Scotland’s ailing economy.
Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Craig Hoy said: ‘When even a former SNP minister is raising concerns about the Nationalists’ foreign aid spending, ministers must address their skewed priorities.
‘Rwanda’s economic growth has consistently dwarfed that of Scotland’s struggling economy, which is being hammered by John Swinney’s high-tax agenda.’
Mr Hoy said ‘money should be diverted towards frontline services at home instead’.
The current international development minister Simita Kumar said she will ‘take away for consideration’ Mr Macpherson’s point about the level of economic growth in Rwanda.
