The British Government was facing condemnation from protesters against the arms trade last night after new figures revealed that the value of arms sales to Africa will more than quadruple by next year.

The figures will come as an embarrassment to Tony Blair, who is preparing to visit the continent this week.

The Prime Minister has said he wants to ‘heal the scars’ of underdevelopment in the region.

High levels of spending on arms are seen as one of main causes of poverty in Africa and Ghana is not out of the list.

A report by the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) reveals that in 1999 African nations received £52 million in arms in deals with British firms.

That figure rose to £125.5million in 2000 and is set to top £200million next year.

A £28million deal to supply Tanzania with a military air defence and traffic control system agreed this year and a £100million-a-year deal with South Africa to supply Hawk jets will inflate the figure.

Small arms deals have also been signed with Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

It is believed that the question of arms will be raised at Blair’s meetings with African leaders in Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal.

Clare Short, the International Development Minister, is also travelling with the Prime Minister.

“On the one hand the Government is talking about the urgent need for constructive development in Africa, while on the other government departments are underwriting and assisting arms dealers to sell weapons on the continent,” said Richard Bingley of CAAT.

“There has been a tangible increase in arms export activity to Africa under this government and it is likely this pattern will soar over the next few years.”

Later this year, the Government will give official backing to one of the continent’s largest arms fairs.

Africa Aerospace and Defence will take place in September and is expected to be used by British defence firms as a showcase for their weapons.

The UK’s Defence Export Services Organisation, part of the Ministry of Defence, will be taking part in the exhibition, while Trade Partners UK, part of the Department of Trade and Industry, will be sponsoring UK defence companies appearing at the exhibition.

This week, the Government will face fresh scrutiny over its arms policy when the Lords launches a concerted attack against the Export Control Bill, which the Government has said will cut illicit trade in arms.

A series of amendments to be laid down by the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats will aim to close loopholes that critics say have left the Bill toothless.

Government opponents say the Bill makes no reference to the need for sustainable development as part of any arms deal, despite European Union rules that say it should be taken into account.

It was the lack of a development clause in the legislation that allowed the Tanzania air defence deal to go through, despite critics saying it was too highly advanced for such a poor nation.

The Lords will also attack the lack of provision of powers to pursue arms brokers who break trading rules while operating abroad, and will say independent scrutiny of arms deals is needed by parliamentary committees.

Last night, the Government defended its position on Africa, saying that the Prime Minister was not going to promote any particular business or arms interests.