AFRICA IS NOT POOR BUT AFRICANS ARE POOR: THE THOUGHT OF AN AFRICAN YOUTH
As I ponder over the words of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah on the eve of
the Independence of Ghana, “the black
man is capable of managing his own affairs when given the opportunity”, I
wonder the veracity or otherwise of this statement since after so many years of
African liberation, the continent is still battling with poverty, high rate of graduate unemployment,
political violence where some African leaders have ruled their country for
several decades as if Democracy is synonymous to Monarchical system of
governance. Isn’t it strange that, some political leaders want to pass on the
leadership of their countries to their children just like in the case of
monarchy? Is the black man really capable of managing his own affairs?
Africa remains a beautiful continent, a land with
abundant natural resources, a land with awesome and intelligent people. A
continent that has been blessed with all the resources required to transform
its economy yet confronted with many woes and challenges. What an irony!
Several literature has described Africa as a
developing country, for how long will we continue to develop? Other literature
also describes Africa as a poor continent? Is Africa a poor continent?
Undoubtedly, Africa cannot be poor and is never poor but perhaps Africans are poor.
Undoubtedly, Africa cannot be poor and is never poor but perhaps Africans are poor.
Being blessed and endowed with precious and valuable
resources such as gold, oil, bauxite, timber among others at our disposal. With
the vast and fertile land that can aid in agricultural activities: the African
continent still relies hugely on foreign market for agricultural produce. The
great African continent our forefathers brought forth is nowhere to be found.
On the contrary, why will Africans not be poor when
we have sold our conscience and portray such greediness and selfishness in our
daily lives? Why won’t Africans be poor when we see opportunities to serve our
motherland as an opportunity to loot and enrich our families? Africa is not
poor but Africans are poor due to our negative attitudes.
Pointing accusing fingers on each other especially
in our political circles has been the order of the day. Sadly, this trend has
led us to nowhere but rather worsened our woes. Isn’t it sad, that after
several years of independence, we still blame our colonial rulers for our woes?
I can only agree with this point if, our colonial rulers handed over to us
political independence and took away or attitudinal independence which we have
to fight for! If that is the case, then let us therefore continue to struggle
for attitudinal independence as a means of addressing our woes.
Isn’t it sad and heart-breaking that, some people
work for several years and still back date their date of birth in order to stay
in public office after attaining the mandatory age of retirement?
Isn’t it more worrying that, Africans still defecate
in our water bodies in this 21st Century?
Isn’t it crazy that, we litter around and build on water
ways?
Isn’t it more disturbing that, we manufacture
products and label them as foreign goods?
Probably,
Africans are not poor materially but are highly indebted attitudinally.
Instead of
always engaging in the blame game as to why Africans are poor in spite of our
rich continent, let us take a retrospective look at our daily attitudes.
Imagine an Africa where there are no filth and dirt on the street resulting in
malaria and other diseases. Imagine an Africa where people aspire for political
office and other leadership positions to serve and not to be served. Imagine a
corruption free Africa where resources are evenly and equitably distributed.
Imagine an Africa where jobs and promotions are given based on merits. Imagine
an Africa where Europeans and Americans will have to struggle to get VISA to
visit our continent to seek for greener pastures such as how we do.
One of the surest ways to turn this “Imaginary
beautiful Africa” into reality is to change our attitudes. Positive attitudes
will surely make Africans as rich as Africa. Let us not disappoint Kwame
Nkrumah and other founding fathers of Africa for fighting hard for political
freedom. Let generations to come remember us for fighting for attitudinal
independence just as we remember our forefathers for fighting for political
independence. With positive attitudes, there is no doubt that, the words of Kwame
Nkrumah, “the black man is capable of managing his own affairs” will be a
reality and not a myth.
By
By
Kwame Ohene-Ntow
YALI DREAM
A BETTER GHANA
A BRIGHTER AFRICA.
The writer is a graduate student of Development
Policy and Planning at KNUST and an Alumnus of Young African Leadership Initiative
(YALI).
Email: vincentntow12@gmail.com
May,2019
This is Brilliant
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