Is Africa really poor or poor in managing resources and human development?

[Grace333]

The main problem with Africa is bad leadership or corruption but there's no way you would say that Africa is poor. A lot of countries in Africa are rich in mineral resources and a lot of things that makes these countries valuable to foreign countries, that's the reason why the westerners are always exploiting a lot of these countries. The leaders are the ones responsible for the poor management of these resources. Africa is one of the richest continent, they can actually survive without the aid of foreign countries if not for corrupt leaders.

[Abdulzuruku01]

The main problem with Africa is bad leadership or corruption but there's no way you would say that Africa is poor. A lot of countries in Africa are rich in mineral resources and a lot of things that makes these countries valuable to foreign countries, that's the reason why the westerners are always exploiting a lot of these countries. The leaders are the ones responsible for the poor management of these resources. Africa is one of the richest continent, they can actually survive without the aid of foreign countries if not for corrupt leaders.

Africa is a blessed continent with mineral resources but we are poor in management due to bad leadership. Most African leaders never meant well for the citizens, instead of working for the people they work for their own personal interests. Instead of using the mineral resources to create job opportunities, they use it to inflict hardship on citizens. Any country or state that African leaders notice is blessed they will by all means try to create insurgency within that community.

Nigeria as a case study, there's this state called Kwara State and Niger State Particularly those two states were peaceful prior to the mining of gold and when the Nigerian government noticed the gold in those areas, that's when bandits and kidnappers started happening in those states, and now peace is no longer there again.

[Youngrebel]

The main problem with Africa is bad leadership or corruption but there's no way you would say that Africa is poor. A lot of countries in Africa are rich in mineral resources and a lot of things that makes these countries valuable to foreign countries, that's the reason why the westerners are always exploiting a lot of these countries. The leaders are the ones responsible for the poor management of these resources. Africa is one of the richest continent, they can actually survive without the aid of foreign countries if not for corrupt leaders.

Africa is extremely rich in natural resources, but i feel like the main issue is that having resources does not automatically make a country wealthy and what actually matters is how those resources are managed, processed, and turned into infrastructure. Corruption and poor leadership have played a major role, but exploitation by foreign interests and weak institutions have also contributed and also Africa has the resources and potential to become economically independent, but that requires a good leadership.

[Rengga Jati]

Many countries likely face the same situation. Sometimes, we feel utterly fed up with the state of our own country. Especially when we see such abundant natural resources. Yet find ourselves saddled with corrupt officials who are indifferent to the nation's fate. It feels like a lost cause. A culture of corruption overrides everything.

Even with our vast natural resources, our largest source of revenue doesn't come from them. Instead, it comes from taxes forcibly collected from the people. That is truly unjust.

Unfortunately, we are just ordinary citizens. There is little we can do other than vent on social media and even that has to be kept in check. Yet, this isn't just about Africa. it is about my country, too. Many foreign tourists say this country is incredibly comfortable. But, the same cannot be said for its government.

[Fiasem20]

It is wrong to say Africa is poor,Africa is a continent and not a country,but if you say the countries in Africa are poor then you’re correct,discussing about how African countries are poor has been a debate that would keep coming up until a practical and visible change comes to reality and what actually pisses me off the most about the countries in Africa being poor is the fact that they’re endowed with wealth producing natural resources for instance one of the most common resource countries in Africa are blessed with is the crude oil but yet the rate of poverty keeps increasing.Even the leaders that are supposed to stand in between the gap to regulate the economic challenges are the ones that are the facilitating the economic downturn with their corrupt deeds.

[BitBakerr1]

It is wrong to say Africa is poor,Africa is a continent and not a country,but if you say the countries in Africa are poor then you’re correct,discussing about how African countries are poor has been a debate that would keep coming up until a practical and visible change comes to reality and what actually pisses me off the most about the countries in Africa being poor is the fact that they’re endowed with wealth producing natural resources for instance one of the most common resource countries in Africa are blessed with is the crude oil but yet the rate of poverty keeps increasing.Even the leaders that are supposed to stand in between the gap to regulate the economic challenges are the ones that are the facilitating the economic downturn with their corrupt deeds.

Africa countries are actually very poor not because they don’t have the resources needed to become rich, but because they lack good leaders.
What made Dubai what it is right now is their leaders, Dubai was not like this before it was built and developed, and they don’t even have the large natural resources that some African countries have, take for example Nigeria, my country the crude oil Dubai have cannot be compared to the crude oil that Nigeria have and the crude oil is not the only natural resources than Nigeria have.
We have natural gas, coal, tin, gold, iron ore, limestone, lead and zinc and many more.
But we are still poor and undeveloped because of bad leaders.

[Finebone]

The main problem with Africa is bad leadership or corruption but there's no way you would say that Africa is poor. A lot of countries in Africa are rich in mineral resources and a lot of things that makes these countries valuable to foreign countries, that's the reason why the westerners are always exploiting a lot of these countries. The leaders are the ones responsible for the poor management of these resources. Africa is one of the richest continent, they can actually survive without the aid of foreign countries if not for corrupt leaders.

I agree to everything you said here mate, Africa remains the richest continent with pure natural resources, but bad leadership and corruption has made it looks like we have nothing, since we are very far from being developed.

 We have seen on numerous occasions where gold, oil and other natural resources are being exported to europe, asia and America for it to be refine, but since corruption has become a menace in the society, public funds is now being redirected into an individual and politicians personal pocket, that's why it looks like Africa is the most poor continent in the world.

[Antotena]

It is wrong to say Africa is poor,Africa is a continent and not a country,but if you say the countries in Africa are poor then you’re correct,discussing about how African countries are poor has been a debate that would keep coming up until a practical and visible change comes to reality and what actually pisses me off the most about the countries in Africa being poor is the fact that they’re endowed with wealth producing natural resources for instance one of the most common resource countries in Africa are blessed with is the crude oil but yet the rate of poverty keeps increasing.Even the leaders that are supposed to stand in between the gap to regulate the economic challenges are the ones that are the facilitating the economic downturn with their corrupt deeds.

This might just be another typical thread with people that knows almost nothing about Africa. I do watch social interviews and how the west are interviewed and questioned about Africa and the responses that I see is not only disappointing, it looks like we might know more about west than they know about Africa. Their media has portray Africa very bad and it's very wrong. Some even assume Africa is a country not knowing its a continent with many countries and different ethnicities.

Africa is not poor but Africa lacks development. If African continent is closed to other continent like other countries are, maybe we will have more developments than this. That poor, it's a lie and it's even relative. There are many countries outside Africa that are even poor than Africa, the other continents that shows fine places of their country have major places that are poor but they don't show it. Somebody will think Dubai is all of it until they show you the other side of it.

[drangos]

There is no prosperity without the involvement of natural resources. The majority of replies here lacked one key component  value addition. It is a fact that much of the higher value processing. Technology and skilled employment can take place elsewhere if raw minerals or oil or agricultural products are exported. In the absence of better education, infrastructure and manufacturing and regional supply chains, even good resource management would not secure more value added in Africa. A common currency would not be a complete answer to rectify these structural issues. The bigger question is. How much value of the economy can indeed be produced in Africa. Before the resources are exported out of the continent?

[Rockstarguy]

The main problem with Africa is bad leadership or corruption but there's no way you would say that Africa is poor. A lot of countries in Africa are rich in mineral resources and a lot of things that makes these countries valuable to foreign countries, that's the reason why the westerners are always exploiting a lot of these countries. The leaders are the ones responsible for the poor management of these resources. Africa is one of the richest continent, they can actually survive without the aid of foreign countries if not for corrupt leaders.

There is no doubt about African leaders being corrupt and how this has been slowing the development of Africa. Africa just having mineral resources is not enough, and even if African leaders decide to manage the money they have, this may not completely take Africa to the level of development Africans expect.

There is one thing to have mineral resources, and there is another thing to set up industries that can make every mineral product have more value. The problem of Africa is not just the mismanagement of funds but the ability to build industries to manage these minerals to make them more valuable.

[Issa56]

The main problem with Africa is bad leadership or corruption but there's no way you would say that Africa is poor.

Anybody that knows about Africa won’t say we are poor, African countries are blessed with different mineral resources, if Africa countries are having good leaders, they should be one of the richest continent, but our leaders just care about themselves, they just want to enrich themselves, and that’s what’s killing us. If African countries can eradicate corruption then you will know they are rich.

Some wealthy people in Africa countries do steal money from their country, and they will travel out of Africa to establish business with the money they stole, African leaders are using our money and resources to develop other countries outside Africa. The main problem we having in Africa is corruption, I don’t know the kind of mentality people in Africa are having, stealing money that you can never finish spending it, even their children cant finish the money, but we have people who can’t even afford 3 square meal.

[Oluwa-btc]

 African countries have been independent for over 50 years. Why haven’t they attracted investment to build not only an extractive industry but also one that produces finished goods? Yes, it’s not easy, but it’s the foundation for further development.
But… the "usurpers" are gone, and power has been handed over to the people - so what went wrong?
As for China - the colonizers of the past have left Africa, but the colonizer of the present has arrived, and that is China.
China won’t let you produce competitive goods and products because sales markets are critically important to its economy. And they’ll do everything to ensure you remain consumers of their products without developing your own economy. China is taking over countries and turning them into economic colonies and markets, spinning sweet tales about the struggle against the West. But it seems not all countries will realize this in time....

Independent?! No! Do you know what the last stage of colonialism is called and what it means? Africans are currently in that phase. Colonialism never ended and left, it was just rebranded into a new form. It si because, these political representatives serves as puppets to their colonial masters and it's not always about corruption.

The colonizers of Africa never left, look around Africa and you could still see these visible signs. Chinese comes with their own interest but, I will not buy into the idea of Chinese being new colonizers. Let's not forget that even during colonialism, they amongst Cuba and Russia where the nations responsible for arming Africa to fight against their colonial masters.

I don't even see it that, the west are responsible for not wanting Africans do that. Whatever the west preach against Chinese, they have done before, will do and intend to do in the future. And what did the west do? Are they yet to stop that? No! Look at West Africa, I don't need to tell you about the countries. I love how the west spread propaganda about Chinese when they can no longer compete lol. Always funny.

[Nuel0717]

The main problem with Africa is bad leadership or corruption but there's no way you would say that Africa is poor.

Anybody that knows about Africa won’t say we are poor, African countries are blessed with different mineral resources, if Africa countries are having good leaders, they should be one of the richest continent, but our leaders just care about themselves, they just want to enrich themselves, and that’s what’s killing us. If African countries can eradicate corruption then you will know they are rich.

Some wealthy people in Africa countries do steal money from their country, and they will travel out of Africa to establish business with the money they stole, African leaders are using our money and resources to develop other countries outside Africa. The main problem we having in Africa is corruption, I don’t know the kind of mentality people in Africa are having, stealing money that you can never finish spending it, even their children cant finish the money, but we have people who can’t even afford 3 square meal.

Developed minds build developed nations African leaders might be well travelled, educated and wealthy which some maintain with stolen public funds but their mentality is backwards else tell me why some African politician would chose to give their families good life in a foreign land, own businesses where they launder money into foreign lands but leave their nations underdeveloped.

Is that not stupidity? Like why would they travelled to developed countries, see how organized those societies are but fail to replicate same in Africa, corruption has made to so foolish to the point that they can even provide basic amenities for the society.

[Silikiem]

The main problem with Africa is bad leadership or corruption but there's no way you would say that Africa is poor.

Anybody that knows about Africa won’t say we are poor, African countries are blessed with different mineral resources, if Africa countries are having good leaders, they should be one of the richest continent, but our leaders just care about themselves, they just want to enrich themselves, and that’s what’s killing us. If African countries can eradicate corruption then you will know they are rich.

Some wealthy people in Africa countries do steal money from their country, and they will travel out of Africa to establish business with the money they stole, African leaders are using our money and resources to develop other countries outside Africa. The main problem we having in Africa is corruption, I don’t know the kind of mentality people in Africa are having, stealing money that you can never finish spending it, even their children cant finish the money, but we have people who can’t even afford 3 square meal.

The problem with African leaders is that they don’t have shame, they Glory in public funds which they use to enrich themselves. They travel abroad for vacations and other reasons, they see how those places are well developed, they can’t copy good things and bring it home, what a shame. The truth is that there’s no nation without corruption but the difference between Africa and this other developed continents is accountability. African leaders do whatever they like because the people don’t pressure them or ask for accountability. And even if you decide to speak up you’ll end up getting locked up or beaten if not get killed. African leaders don’t respect the human rights of its citizens and I think the citizens too don’t know their human rights as well and that’s why African leaders are doing whatever they like and no one can stand up and question them. I believe there’s no nation that’s free from corruption and embezzlement of funds but before most of this developed nation will embezzle public funds they at least try to make sure that they do what it’s required of them or the funds to satisfy the public interest. But in Africa, the leaders take everything without providing the barest Minimum for the public.

[Umulala-alala]

The main problem with Africa is bad leadership or corruption but there's no way you would say that Africa is poor.

Anybody that knows about Africa won’t say we are poor, African countries are blessed with different mineral resources, if Africa countries are having good leaders, they should be one of the richest continent, but our leaders just care about themselves, they just want to enrich themselves, and that’s what’s killing us. If African countries can eradicate corruption then you will know they are rich.

Some wealthy people in Africa countries do steal money from their country, and they will travel out of Africa to establish business with the money they stole, African leaders are using our money and resources to develop other countries outside Africa. The main problem we having in Africa is corruption, I don’t know the kind of mentality people in Africa are having, stealing money that you can never finish spending it, even their children cant finish the money, but we have people who can’t even afford 3 square meal.

The problem with African leaders is that they don’t have shame, they Glory in public funds which they use to enrich themselves. They travel abroad for vacations and other reasons, they see how those places are well developed, they can’t copy good things and bring it home, what a shame. The truth is that there’s no nation without corruption but the difference between Africa and this other developed continents is accountability. African leaders do whatever they like because the people don’t pressure them or ask for accountability. And even if you decide to speak up you’ll end up getting locked up or beaten if not get killed. African leaders don’t respect the human rights of its citizens and I think the citizens too don’t know their human rights as well and that’s why African leaders are doing whatever they like and no one can stand up and question them. I believe there’s no nation that’s free from corruption and embezzlement of funds but before most of this developed nation will embezzle public funds they at least try to make sure that they do what it’s required of them or the funds to satisfy the public interest. But in Africa, the leaders take everything without providing the barest Minimum for the public.

We don't have a good working law that affects the rich, the law are just for the poor thats why Africa is been down below, the problem we have is just our leaders we also we are part of the problem not just the leaders we are not in unity that's why Africa is underdeveloped, despite all the natural resources we have,. We have low thinking as Africans we always fail to develop our own but steal the money and go other continents to develop them, they abandoned everything they are supposed to do in Africa because they know where to get them if they want, they are not concerned about the educational sectors or even a reliable hospital because neither do them or their relatives needs it here since they can get it abroad. We need to be in unity and stand to our right before Africa can be better.

[SDS11]

Africa is a rich continent endowed with natural resources but from the onset Africa is set up to fail. Could it be the geographical location of Africa? Africa as a continent shouldn't be struggling because it has various types of mineral resources that can turn Africa to one of the strongest continent in the world. The population is huge,there is knowledge etc. But like i said earlier it was set up to fail by those who claim to have discovered Africa. If African leaders think outside the box then surely Africa will become one of the best. Imagine Africa as a continent is using one currency to trade amongst themselves.

Africa is a rich continent. Africa has minerals resources until they start adding values to themselves they will become rich in paper and poor in reality, trading among themselves with one currency and one vision will rise Africa.. Africa export raw mineral cheaply and import minerals costly(if not mistaken), the leaders should think if they start trading among themselves surely Africa will rise the people and their knowledge are the strongest continent. They’re not made poor but a rich continent just the leaders.

[Decimetre]

Africa is a rich continent endowed with natural resources but from the onset Africa is set up to fail. Could it be the geographical location of Africa? Africa as a continent shouldn't be struggling because it has various types of mineral resources that can turn Africa to one of the strongest continent in the world. The population is huge,there is knowledge etc. But like i said earlier it was set up to fail by those who claim to have discovered Africa. If African leaders think outside the box then surely Africa will become one of the best. Imagine Africa as a continent is using one currency to trade amongst themselves.

Africa is a rich continent. Africa has minerals resources until they start adding values to themselves they will become rich in paper and poor in reality, trading among themselves with one currency and one vision will rise Africa.. Africa export raw mineral cheaply and import minerals costly(if not mistaken), the leaders should think if they start trading among themselves surely Africa will rise the people and their knowledge are the strongest continent. They’re not made poor but a rich continent just the leaders.

Africa lacks the technical know-how in several aspects of production, not that they can't have such knowledge in that production area, but they have refused to train people in that regards. This is why Africa is still in poverty till date. Bad leadership and transnational bound corrupt practices. So many of these colonial masters planned this and they influence the African politics from behind the scenes. We only watch screenplays because I see no other reasons why the African leaders will not build their own companies and production plants to boost their economy.

The proposed West African Eco Currency already received several backlash as some countries like Guinea has withdrawn from the proposal claiming that they trade more with the Asians than their Neighbouring Africans https://www.google.com/search?q=which+African+countries+did+not+vote+for+the+One+African+currency&oq=which+African+countries+did+not+vote+for+the+One+African+currency&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigAdIBCTI5MTcyajBqOagCALACAQ&client=ms-android-xiaomi-terr1-rso2&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8. All these make it difficult for Africa to be independent because they have accepted to be perpetual slaves to their masters abroad.

[Shineup]

The main problem with Africa is bad leadership or corruption but there's no way you would say that Africa is poor. A lot of countries in Africa are rich in mineral resources and a lot of things that makes these countries valuable to foreign countries, that's the reason why the westerners are always exploiting a lot of these countries. The leaders are the ones responsible for the poor management of these resources. Africa is one of the richest continent, they can actually survive without the aid of foreign countries if not for corrupt leaders.

If we should go into details Africa happen to be one of the richest Continent on this planet earth, but because of bad governance, has made it look like the poorest continent, they have enough mineral resources that can make it look more better and beautiful than any other continent, but the greed among their leaders is something that can't let it get better, it's still off recently that the people are still waking up to reality, by going out there to aquire knowledge and see things that will be profitable to them and putting it to work, but I'm still trusting on the process as I believe it will get more better.

[L E G E N D A R Y]

If we should go into details Africa happen to be one of the richest Continent on this planet earth, but because of bad governance, has made it look like the poorest continent, they have enough mineral resources that can make it look more better and beautiful than any other continent, but the greed among their leaders is something that can't let it get better, it's still off recently that the people are still waking up to reality, by going out there to aquire knowledge and see things that will be profitable to them and putting it to work, but I'm still trusting on the process as I believe it will get more better.

We all know that having natural resources alone doesn’t guarantee prosperity. That’s why a country may be heavily endowed by these resources but still remain in poverty, and that’s because how prosperous they will become depends heavily on how they’re able to turn those resources into productive industries, infrastructures, job opportunities and different kinds of development for its people.

[DrBeer]

....
Unfortunately, we are just ordinary citizens. There is little we can do other than vent on social media and even that has to be kept in check. Yet, this isn't just about Africa. it is about my country, too. Many foreign tourists say this country is incredibly comfortable. But, the same cannot be said for its government.

Ordinary citizens? Who goes to the polls and entrusts power to other people? Isn’t it citizens? Ordinary citizens.... The days of colonial rulers are over, African countries have gained their freedom, and their people have the right to vote and the right to choose their leaders - no one imposes puppets on you anymore, you choose your own leaders.
Perhaps the problem lies somewhere in this area? Misplaced trust? The wrong choice? A lack of critical thinking regarding campaign promises? If your country isn’t under the yoke of a totalitarian ruler, everything else is a consequence of the population’s actions - or inaction....