THE DIFFICULT TRUTH ABOUT AFRICA
The above excerpts are from an article written by Arnold Ekpe for the African Report magazine. In the article mention so many essential factors that are affecting the development of the continent. I must admit that some of the points hard pills to swallow but gives valuable information to work with as Africans, especially the current generation.
No matter where we live as Africans, and no matter the opportunities and privileges we enjoy, we will never be distanced from our home continent. Our difference is a gift of nature, and people cannot help it but notice us. Some have taken this negatively and use it as a source of inspiration to hurt and offend us. And we cannot overlook those horrible past events that weigh so heavily on the continent and her people. Yet still what affects us as people of Africa is common and therefore we need to mobilise and start the change from within Africa.
The hardest thing about lies is that once you repeat it enough, people begin to believe that it is the truth.
THE DIFFICULT TRUTH
Yet still, the article calls Africans to take up the ruins and debris and redirect our focus to build a new Africa that can make all of us proud.
The hardest thing about lies is that once you repeat it enough, people begin to believe that it is the truth. Africans have been made to believe in the myths of incapacitation. And this has lead to trying to take control of our destiny on the false grounds and pretence. The fundamental question here is, do we know and understand what we are doing? From the book Why Nations Fail, The writers argue that the reason why countries fail is as a result of the political leadership and organisation of the country. I am a strong contender that Africa can afford to harness its private sector to bring prosperity to its people. But why I turn to the side with the writers is that without strong state institution to protect and call to accountability the private sector, no one can successfully do anything. So how come Africa lack these strong institutions? Are not capable of following rules and regulations? I think Africa inherited institutions and systems it had no idea how to maintain, develop and innovate with it.
Please watch this video about why nations fail. There is some uncomfortable truth as he progresses about the continent and for those of you care, we have to work to correct this negligence. And hold our governments accountable for the political leaderships that maintains poverty and suffering.
They were handed machines, ideologies, systems and already made infrastructure that they didn't have the fundamental knowledge to build upon.
THE BITTER TRUTH
There is this argument that when most African countries gained independence, their Countries were more prosperous compare to 50 to 60 years later. The industries, roads, railways, the harbours, institutions, and all that they inherited were mismanaged and left to cradle to the grave. The reason for this was straightforward, they were not taught how these things worked. They were handed machines, ideologies, systems and already made infrastructure that they didn't have the fundamental knowledge to build upon. So they were left to rot, and people moved onto survive. This is somehow the same for our political and economical leadership in Africa today. I am not sure if we fully grasp the concept of leadership and how to develop a better political system that works well for all Africans and not just the political elites.
If you sit around the table long enough, you will be infected by the people around it.
NEW IDEAS AT THE TABLE
One of the problematic things also the fact that you have the same people around the table of Africa politics. The rotation of political leadership is not refreshing enough, and this, of course, a phenomenon in even advance countries. But the problem with replacing one party member with another party member is that you inherit the same results. If the previous government was corrupt, the next one has been around the table too and will not do any different, no matter his intentions. If you sit around the table long enough, you will be infected by the people around it. So the only way for most Africa countries to emerge from the claws systems that have seen the best days of their performance and step into new ideologies that work well, they will have to exam whom they vote into power. Recycling political leadership and ideologies has proven itself futile on the continent. Blind support and tribalism have not helped us into prosperity. It only helped a few elites around the table, so it is time to rethink the way we elect new leaders. The millennial Africans must not make the same mistakes as the previous generations. It is their future, and that of their children at stake here and therefore must rise to the challenge of the building of Africa they want.
We do share not only a geographical location but also a colonial history and the aftermaths of rotten leaderships.
MOVING INTO A BETTER REALITY
Africans on the continent and outside must take their future more seriously and be a concern for the future of Africa. What happens to the continent affects all Africans. We can move into a better reality, and even though Africa is not a country, yes our woes are not that different from each other. We do share not only a geographical location but also a colonial history and the aftermaths of rotten leaderships. We have more in common in marginalisation and undermining by other countries so whether we like it or not our traditions, languages and difference are only semantics. We are one people and must unite in efforts towards the betterment of the continent. Selfish ambitions won't get any individual anywhere. Most of these advanced nations are powerful because they recognised their difference and unite above that. It is an underdeveloped mindset to allow pettiness to separate our ability to coexistence and find cohesion where it is needed to develop Africa.
However, the biggest challenge is how do you clean the political table? Only the African voters have the power to clean the table every time leadership fails.
THE RULE OF LAW
What is the law if no one follows it? I remember my visit to Ghana end of 2019. Thanks to foreign investment and local initiatives, the country has seen tremendous growth, but there is still room for improvement as always. Especially when it comes to dealing with one of the things I consider as Africa's problem. Sensitisation or MAKING AWARE, Africa leaders must invest heavily in informing and making their citizens aware of what laws and regulations have to be followed. One of the things I kept upsetting myself in Ghana about is commercial drivers who prioritise themselves above pedestrians. It is for instance to organise a short training for these apprenticeship 'conductors' to drivers. Most of these drivers of 'trotro' don't necessarily go through any formal education, but the government can sensitise them about road priorities and vulnerabilities on regular bases and impose controls that will ensure safety on the road. And this is just one example that many African nations can follow. People will not know by themselves if no one teaches them. It is naive for any well-wishing leader to think people will follow anything by themselves. Then there will be no need for law enforcement but what do you do when the law enforcers are corrupt themselves? It is those neglected efforts that lead to a big pile of lawlessness that seems impossible to overcome. However, the biggest challenge is how do you clean the political table? Only the African voters have the power to clean the table every time leadership fails.
CONCLUSION
To achieve progress and overcome the challenges Mr Ekpe wrote about in his article, both politicians and civilians will have to work hand in hand. We must face our failures and what lead to those failures and discover new ways to contribute to the development of the continent. We have stopped the malpractices and behaviours that undermine the integrity of the continent and practise what we preach. The point is no one will do it for us. Africa is the responsibility of Africans, and no matter what well-wishers may do for us that will not solve our problems. The charity mentality won't save Africa as the past has proven so, Africa needs Africans who are not afraid to see the issues and decide to solve that problem no matter how little their efforts might be. That is the spirit of cheetahs
FOOTNOTE:
Inspiration article from:
https://www.theafricareport.com/32131/reality-check-making-africa-relevant-must-come-from-africans/
http://whynationsfail.com/
https://www.ted.com/talks/george_ayittey_africa_s_cheetahs_versus_hippos?language=en#t-1052672