Following the ongoing post presidential election crisis in Ivory Coast, West Africa...which currently has two presidents vowing to control the state, I hope and pray that the meeting today Dec 28 with Gbagbo and the three regional leaders from other African states will yield some solutions to the current crisis. Read more about the ongoing crisis.
Ivorians do not want to go back to another civil war. War is just not the solution to our many problems in Africa. Our major problems are the lack of accountability, transparency and reliability in the bureaucrats—which most often times lead to distrust in the government by the people. In any form/system of government, once the people distrust their leader—that nation is likely to fall into serious crisis. This has been the case with many post-war nations in Africa. In general, chronic corruption and the failure of most leaders to run the state justly—that is by reaching its power and economic developments in rural parts of the nation, has been one of the biggest causes of conflicts in Africa.
It makes me sad to see many of our African political leaders, who got their education from the western world, misusing what they have learned by bringing instability to their home countries rather than contributing constructively to help the nation. Is that what universities in the western world taught these leaders who have walked through the walls of great schools in the developed world? I beg to differ. I am currently attending university in the United States—studying Supply Chain and Logistics Tech, but none of my classes, nor the ones in liberal arts, have taught me to go back to my home country and disrupt the peace that many people are enjoying by negatively influencing my brothers and sisters, who are less educated, to fight against the current government in order to gain political power and do nothing for the nation—but to enrich myself and my family.
I think it is time for African leaders and students that are currently studying aboard in developed nations to rethink their role in society as college graduates. It is our educational duties as students and good citizens to contribute to the well being of society—specifically toward humanity. By contributing our time and talents and if possible our treasures, we will to help make the world a peaceful and better place for all.
If our African leaders can only promote education among the growing youth population and foster accountability and transparency in our government, Africa will rise. Our leaders also need to benchmark our economic development policies and capacity building strategies by looking at key players in today’s global economy—China is a good example—rising from being a developing nation to becoming one of the major players in the global economy.
So, why most leaders in Africa are power greed? I have been trying to find an answer to this question. However, I came up with this possible answer... I strongly believe that the answer is post-presidency insecurity due to the way they got in power (military often the case) or their political actions toward the public in general during their term in office... corruption and mismanagement of public funds and natural resources. It is often said that what goes around comes around; therefore, most African leaders, who have tasted power for several years, do not want to step down for fear that people who they have offended during their presidency might go after them.
Overall, Africans need to start thinking ahead. Our leaders need to see what others in the developed world are doing positively and adopt to a best practice strategy to help improve the lives of Africans be it from east to west or from north to south. All African nations need to rally around one another to help develop a vibrant economy, good roads network and transportation systems that enable the free flow of goods and services throughout the continent. This is not a one person or one nation task; it is every African responsibility. Our brothers and sisters in other African nations have suffered and are still suffering today because of some individuals’ selfish political will.
As we enter the New Year, it is time to shine our eyes, look back and think constructively on how best we can improve the well being of all Africans. We have the resources to do this, but we need the right people with God fearing hearts to manage these resources properly by accounting for every dollar received and putting the received revenues into programs that promotes economic developments, prosperity, and education for all people. We need leaders that love the continent not because of its wealth, but because of it people and the continent as a whole.
Some Possible Solutions
How can we move toward economically self-efficient, socially viable and environmentally sustainable society in years to come? African Union, ECOWAS and other trade blocs within Africa and the international community will have to assist in capacity building and economic developments in all African states to ensure the proper management of funds. Regional, religious, tribal and local leaders will all have to work together in all capacities to help create a vibrant economy by assisting the state government with the management of natural resources and public funds. An African Union development fund will also need to be set aside to help strengthen the economy of poorer nations on the continent. Every state will have to contribute somehow, either through human capital, financial capital and natural capital, to this fund in order to benefit from it. A board of trustees consisting of two representatives ( nominated by the president and confirmed by the senate from each state) from all African states should govern the allocation of this fund by ensuring that every dollar spent is accounted for and is approved by majority of the board for the right purpose.
We must also empower current college graduates to contribute what they have learned to help with the economic developments process. These students should be compensated well according to their academic level in order to avoid corruption and other malpractices. We must also encourage students that are studying overseas to come back home and help with the development process. We must also empower our educational institutions by providing all the necessary teaching resources to create first class learning environments in all African states. It is also important to invest in regional research institutions such as medical, technological and transportation, and other studies that will contribute findings to help improve the standard of living of citizens on the continent.
Most importantly, we must also invest in turning our own natural resources into finished goods, which will help to create possibly millions of jobs, rather than solely depending on imported goods or having foreign companies extract our resources and export them overseas. We must invest in clean agriculture technology to grow more food to feed the growing population and the workforce. We must also invest in good road networks and public transportation systems to create easy access for farmers to reach regional and local markets. Also, it is important to focus on major environmental issues such as safe drinking water, good air quality and the conservation of our natural resource for future generation.
Further, we must forgo the mentality that war is the only solution to our problems. For decades, it can clearly be stated that war has not taken us anywhere. It has led to millions of deaths, poor living conditions, hundreds of children undernourished and malnourished and increased dependent on foreign aid. Africans, this is the time for us to rise. Let’s say NO to WAR in every region, town and village. Also, let us learn to manage our own conflict without international intervention (they should be the last result), if one arises, from the onset before it becomes a major one.
Finally,I do understand that it is not easy to just come together as one people to achieve these above mentioned goals taking into consideration the size of our continent, the hundreds of different tribal languages and traditional practices, but it is the time now to start working toward it. Nothing comes easy—it takes people, hard work and self dedication and unity to achieve a common goal. If Europe with all its post internal conflicts or the United States with all it post civil conflicts can unite as one people today regardless of their political differences and heritage, we too can come together to rebuild our continent and unite as one people. We must all learn to compromise our tribal, religious and political differences for the sake of peace and the love of our people, the nation and the continent.
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