For many years now, I have not been able to understand the scale of underdevelopment in most parts of Sampson’s “Jaw Bone” continent, Africa. Today, the situation is not different. Poverty, hunger, diseases, road carnage, waste pollution, violence and wrong attitude, is on the ascendancy. This has had a huge and devastating effect on political will as well as on the socioeconomic activity of people.
What has fueled these seeming entrenched ills include, bitter class conflict between the rich (vociferous) and poor (marginalized), corrupt persons working in various institutions, military coups and political repression. The hope once inspired by decolonization and that of a strong feeling of nationalism has faded, giving way to all of the aforementioned. Thus, the process of Africa’s development has turned out to be more complex and unpredictable than originally imagined.
Indeed, I am also particularly disturbed and frightened to find that despite the enormous resources, many an African hardly “think and act as responsible trustee of Earth (their surroundings), seeking choices in ecology, economics and ethics,” John McConnel, Founder of International Earth Day.
Beneath the soil are deposits of gold, diamond, iron, bauxite, etc., worth countless of dollars. The topography is productive enough for forests and vegetation. The bodies of water are plenty, teeming with nutritious tuna, salmon, tilapia, herrings, and other sea foods. An even bigger shuttle to cruise to dreamland was the discovery of crude oil. To nearly all peoples in Angola, Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia and elsewhere, oil commerce would generate several trillion dollars which should manifest in their socioeconomic well-being.
Conversely, the terms of oil exploration along the coast of Cabinda Bay in Angola, Niger Delta in Nigeria, Cape Three Points in Ghana and the Gambella region in Ethiopia, is characterized predominantly by imbalances arising from percentage share of oil sale.
Ironically, the output of native scientists, geologists, engineers and other technical stakeholders is minimal to help with oil finds let alone to manufacture gigantic oil rigs. Hence, inasmuch as the revenue share is worrisome, I think that such imbalance is justified on the basis of Africa’s need of infrastructure and research to discover new wells and possibilities.
Away from oil talk with its high incidence of spills into community streams killing aquatic life, causing soil infertility as well as leaving several people homeless, let me focus on Africa’s leadership.
It is in the competence of leadership that growth and development of a country can materialize. I have observed keenly the performance of an appreciable number of leaders across the globe, and it is fascinating to know that the will power of leaders and the right work attitude of citizens have brought tremendous industrialization and prosperity. I will pause here and continue some other time...
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