Bono, Bob Geldof are among a group of celebrities pressed the world’s wealthiest countries Wednesday to come through with more pledged financial aid for Africa.

The Irish rock stars-turned-activists presented a new report that found the Group of Eight countries have collectively donated a fraction of the $22 billion in extra funds they pledged in 2005 to be paid by 2010.

The report by Data, an advocacy group aimed at wiping out extreme poverty and AIDS in Africa, says targeted aid is working, but countries are falling behind in their commitments.
Bono, Geldof, singer Angelique Kidjo, tennis star-turned-singer Yannick Noah and aid workers laid out the findings in Paris, partly to put pressure on France near the July 1 start of its presidency of the European Union.

The report said that France’s assistance to sub-Saharan Africa fell $66 million from 2006 to 2007; that Germany, Italy and Canada are off “track;” and that “more is needed” from Japan. The United States and Britain appear set to meet their targets by 2010, it said.