Ikenna Michael Oforma in Lagos takes issue with what he sees as Africa's 'Oliver Twist' mentality, as the G8 summit winds up in Germany

The recipients of donor funding must justify that they are trustworthy. If you look at the score-sheet, many African recipients do not fare well. If anything, their record has been abysmal.

If we are to think globally, what we do locally must be a reference point. After all, some of the donor nations are themselves under domestic pressures.

Thursday 7 June

In Ghana, A.Siddiq Tanko celebrates Nigeria's Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's historic literature prize

For a long time now enthusiasts of African literature have been waiting patiently for the emergence of the next generation of writers with the potential to rise to the heights attained by their predecessors, and if possible, go further.

Thankfully, with the likes of Adichie coming out and showing a lot of promise, we can look forward to a bright future for African literature.

Congratulations, Chimamanda. My words of encouragement to you are; 'work harder and aim higher'.

Wednesday 6th June

In Kenya, Ndungu Ndegwa reflects on recent developments involving the outlawed Mungiki group.

I hate violence, I detest bloodbaths, I hate hostility and the loss of life.

I condemn in the strongest terms possible the recent killings blamed on the Mungiki sect but in equal breath, I condemn any innocent death that may have been caused by the police in their search for Mungiki gangs!

We all love security, and I am sure many Kenyans want anyone who jeopardises our security to be dealt with ruthlessly, but only the culpable should suffer and not innocent bystanders!

Tuesday 5th June

Alison Farago from Kenya wonders why the first open heart surgery carried out in Uganda was not performed across the border.

Open heart surgery has been carried out in Nairobi at the Mater Hospital for many years. Last year we did over 100 open and closed heart surgeries on children from very poor backgrounds for free.

The only thing that prevents us from doing more is lack of funds - there are Kenyan doctors with the necessary skills, and there are hospitals with the necessary facilities for the operations but there is insufficient funding to pay for the surgical consumables and drugs as well as the facilities themselves.

Whilst it is wonderful that the two recipients of the surgery in Kampala are now able to live a normal life, couldn't those funds have been better utilised to fund operations in an already established and underutilised facility which is only an hour's flight away?

Monday 4th June

Momolu W. Pewu, a student at Cuttington University in Liberia feels Charles Taylor was justified in refusing to appear on trial at the Hague today.

If what I read on the on the BBC website this morning is true, then Mr.Taylor was right to boycott his trial.

I feel that the international community is trying to use every means possible to silence this man once and for all. A place where he will serve his sentence has already been found. If the system was to be fair, then there should be several other African and Western leaders in the dock with Taylor.

I am not against justice. But if someone is accused of a crime, let him have every right under the judicial system.