The African crisis

Africa has been in the throes of economic, political and socio-cultural crisis for decades. In fact, the current “West” economic quagmire we have been dragged into has been the manifestation of years of senseless ineptitude on the part of our political leaders. In a simple phrase: If you refuse to put on your thinking cap you allow anyone else to put it on for you.

Reports by Reuters news spell doom critically looking at comments by bourgeois experts. The African Development Bank (AfDB) has accordingly been reported of predicting 3.5% growth fall for Africa. And more disturbing is the rippling effects it will engender. They warn of rising unrest as credit dries up for governments and consumers.

This means efforts of government to expand and maintain fundamental needs like water, hospitals, foods, etc for their people will be hit hard. People will be gravely affected to the core the more the recession bites. Thus, threatening to reverse improvements in poverty, health and living standards.

The Bank predicts a worrying future for fragile states which are emerging from conflict as well as those countries such as Zambia and DR Congo. Hope might be replaced with hopelessness.

African leaders have to think through all these disturbing trends and find befitting African solutions to them. Unfair trading system, dependence on exportation of raw materials, unbridled importation of any other thing, handouts, trade liberalism, etc. must be duly looked at for good.

We need to break the umbilical cord of unfair trade system. We need to add value to our rich raw materials. We need to produce, produce and produce galore. A country which cannot produce to fend for itself and factories is probably not fit to live amongst the comity of nations.

There can be end in sight to our predicaments. But there can never be end insight if we continue following the dictates of the Bretton Woods institutions inspired by the very few who exploits us.
There must be African solutions to African problems now!

Credit: Author: Kweku Otchere University of Ghana, Legon.
[thepost2009@yahooo.com]