Madonna’s promises in Malawi turn sour

BLANTYRE, Malawi—Malawi’s education minister is complaining his government has been left out of Madonna’s plans to drastically scale back charity efforts here.

While some officials in this impoverished southern African country say changes have taken them by surprise, Madonna’s camp says the government has been informed and involved.

Madonna broke ground for a $15 million academy for girls in Malawi in 2009. Earlier this year, Madonna’s Raising Malawi foundation announced that instead of building the academy, it is providing $300,000 to develop 10 schools.

Education Minister George Chaponda says, “We haven’t been officially approached.”

But Trevor Neilson, who is helping direct Madonna’s Malawi projects, says such allegations are “absolutely not true.”