Publishing the figures will underline that Ministers are striving to be balanced. Never mind how it looks, though: better statistics will lead to better decisions.
Africa is home to 16 per cent of the world’s population, and this is set to double by 2050. Its GDP is expected to reach $3.2 trillion in the next five years.
Magufuli talks of the ‘harmful effects of birth control’ and attacks women using contraception as ‘lazy’, but we give £45 million to boost family planning in his nation.
At home, our government’s motives will be questioned, and it will be accused of holding post-colonial attitudes borne of guilt or arrogance.