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

[Findingnemo]

We keep seeing this discussion again and again but the answer is simple it is a place where every natural resource exists such as raw material but it is not alone enough to make profits, the government should export the products to others than raw material to increase revenue and also they need to focus on the local based compnaies over the corporates from other nations because they make money and take the money to their country.

[Emeraldo]

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.

The number one problem of most African countries is bad government and that have been the reason why African has been seen as a poor continent. The bad governments are only after making money and stealing billions of government funds instead of using this money to enrich their economy and make sure that every of their citizens get good education and start being productive state rather than relying on foreign aids that will be stolen later. If most of the corrupt leaders of the African continent can be erased and new ambitious ones come into power, Africa is going to change immediately and turn to world advanced continent.

[Jubilee58]

Africa can only be considered poor when it comes to administration, and managing of resources, but in times of having mineral resources, Africa is not poor. Many African countries are rich in mineral resources such as crude oil, gold etc, and if these resources are well managed wealth would be largely created in Africa. Good governance is really what what brings development, and wealth to a country, and wealth or riches can only be created when leaders are doing the right thing, and also have the development of the country at heart. Many developed countries are rich because of good governance, and good management of their resources, and sometimes they even create source of income, and revenue for the country, but where their is poor governance, poor resource management such country will definitely not do well economically despite how rich they might be in natural resources.

[Localhostspeed]

Exactly, bad governance the major reason why most African countries are not developed. The potential for their growth already exists, but selfishness has made the leaders focus and work for their own interest, as there is little to show for it. That is why many young people in Africa are ensuring they are self employed to take care of themselves, as the government is not doing much to help the people. And the rate at which this is becoming a serious problem and raises concern, as some young people are forced to become idle and cause a nuisance in their society.

Bad governance play roles in development of a country but have we also look at the roles of individuals in the countries that we live. We blame the government so much, we want to hold them accountable but individually not different from the government. If you look at some countries in Africa, they are well developed and they don't have resources like some countries with bad leadership but they are doing well, South Africa is one of the developed country but that does not mean they don't have bad leadership.

If individuals are doing what the government are doing but in silent and yet people scream about bad leadership and all of that, in sure it is not going to make any difference in 100 years to come even if they have a new governance. Just like you said, we need to cut selfish interest, we need to put ourself as once but when you look at each country in Africa, majority of them are divided due to difference in ethnicity and cultures.

[Youngrebel]

True that Africa natural resources should have put the continent in a much stronger position economically but i think we need to look beyond that because I feel like Africa was simply set up to fail because looking at colonialism it actually shaped many of the challenges we inherited, but poor governance, corruption, and political division have also kept us from using what we have and the  idea of stronger African integration is valid and important because imagine s situation where African countries could trade more freely with one another, process our raw materials locally, and reduce our dependence on foreign markets we will definitely grow, but the question is who is ready to allow that in Africa? Omor there a lot to say but who is ready for the betterment of the society everyone is working for their survival and selfish interest.

[Nwada001]

Yeah most African countries aren’t poor at all, they have enough mineral resources to enrich their country but what is affecting most of them is failure to utilize this resources very well. Bad governance and high rate of corruption has kept most of this country’s that are to be developed underdeveloped, making it look like the country is poor.

Countries being underdeveloped is a structure those politicians who are in power strategically laid down; the resources are there, but they are not properly accounting for it. They prefer to allow external bodies to come handle some of their natural resource extraction where they can steal and do whatever they want rather than for the country itself to be in control.

It has been known for ages now that if most of the African country leaders can be less selfish and be focused on development, with 50% of what the country generates, you will see a better and greater Africa soon.

[Samlucky O]

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?

Geographical location does not have anything to do with Africans poverty . Africans poverty is orchestrated by the leaders in it, they sell mineral resources and enrich themselves why the poor masses suffer. There is nothing wrong about geographical location but the leadership style. You can take a look at Burkina Faso how president Ibrahim Traore has reshaped it's country and it's doing well. If other African countries will emulate from him, Africa would be the best place to stay. The truth is that we have all it takes to be number 1 continent in the world, but bad leadership system is what is crumbling us.

[Umulala-alala]

African countries are not poor, I can talk about my country called the African giants and you could write a novel concerning how public funds are managed inappropriately for private benefits over using it for the right purposes.

Governments are the bad eyes in the system, and reason why most African countries are still poor and not looking like escaping extreme poverty and side effects that shows how poor countries are living.

Nigeria has mineral resources, good soil for planting and everything needed to make us one of the richest countries in the world, but specific individuals are playing greed, what good comes out from greedy politicians in government offices.

Nigeria is the most bless country in Africa, Nigeria would have be one of the richest country in the world if not for greed and corruption among the political leaders in the country, Nigeria also have talented people but lack the opportunity to bring it to spot light has been killed by the country they are in, Nigeria politicians are mostly the richest people in the country due to the public funds they are embezzling, we have oil we also have gas etc, we have all it takes to make us one the developed and richest country in the world.

[Mr_Brilliant$]

There's more to this that meets the eyes. First of all, Africa has critical thinking individuals but they just want their own person. What is killing Africans today is favouritism. Africans are not poor, they just lack critical thinkers in high places. We do the wrong thing all over again and blame whoever we want to blame. As more and more smart people gets to the positions that decisions are made, we would see changes.

[yixichloro2xx]

Yeah most African countries aren’t poor at all, they have enough mineral resources to enrich their country but what is affecting most of them is failure to utilize this resources very well. Bad governance and high rate of corruption has kept most of this country’s that are to be developed underdeveloped, making it look like the country is poor.

Countries being underdeveloped is a structure those politicians who are in power strategically laid down; the resources are there, but they are not properly accounting for it. They prefer to allow external bodies to come handle some of their natural resource extraction where they can steal and do whatever they want rather than for the country itself to be in control.

It has been known for ages now that if most of the African country leaders can be less selfish and be focused on development, with 50% of what the country generates, you will see a better and greater Africa soon.

Alot of African countries would rather give Chinese, and other foreign companies to come and mine critical mineral for some low amount of money. I instead of them to utilise those mineral resources by building processing factory to be able to produce some end products from those minerals and trade it with other nations. This will bring substantial wealth into the country, maybe beating what oil and gas gives. But African leaders  especially Nigeria are blind in the eyes and brain for them to think properly.

It's such a shame to watch other top nations building something significant with the resources the take from us. Yet our African leaders will go to that same country to borrow money for their own personal interest. We just need a good governance or a new system of government that shows transparency and accountability.

[knowngunman]

Bad governance play roles in development of a country but have we also look at the roles of individuals in the countries that we live. We blame the government so much, we want to hold them accountable but individually not different from the government. If you look at some countries in Africa, they are well developed and they don't have resources like some countries with bad leadership but they are doing well, South Africa is one of the developed country but that does not mean they don't have bad leadership.

Who are the government? Government is just an institution, it's just a name. The people made the government, so individuals are the government. Logically, you can not blame the institutions but the people that made up the institutions are responsible. If we want to be honest with ourselves, we are not ready for change in Africa at large. Our mindset is bitter and dangerous. The few that made up the government are highly corrupt but the many that are not yet part of the government are the most corrupt waiting for the opportunity to come. Tell me how we can develop with this mindset when everyone is making plan on how to benefit themselves and their family even before they become part of the government. Once they become part of the government, they start implementing the plan. Nobody is literally planning on how to make things right for the entire nation. Of course, we can keep on blaming the whites but the real change begins with us.

[SUPERSAIAN]

Africa is not poor in both natural and human resources but management of these resources is the problem that make Africa appear poor. We cannot begin to measure the wealth of Africa in terms of what they have as natural resources, from arable lands to natural deposits such as oil and gas and even rare earth metals amongst others. If Africa manages her resources very well, they have no business with poverty but I don't think they will ever be allowed to develop due to democracy that is prone to manipulation hence paving way for the worst of them to lead them.

Africa is not actually a poor continent in terms of land and natural resources. It is very rich in natural resources. Diamonds, gold, lithium, you name it, it's there. These resources have been mismanaged, and the wealth generated has not benefited the people. In addition, the economic and political interests of foreign countries in Africa have been the biggest factor.

The effects of the system left over from the colonial era, the transfer of resources abroad, and political instability have all seriously prevented Africa from utilizing its own potential.

[m2017]

Africa is a rich continent endowed with natural resources but from the onset Africa is set up to fail.

Your observation is very astute, as countries rich in natural resources rarely become wealthy themselves. Let me explain why. Such countries have no real incentive to develop technology (or to grow their economies more broadly), because there is a cheaper, simpler way to generate revenue: selling off their natural resources (such as minerals). Naturally, under these circumstances, the government is reluctant to invest in development efforts that offer no guarantee of success or profitability. Instead, they opt for the path of least resistance, extracting and selling resources, which enriches the elite while leaving the country itself in a state of near-starvation.

Could it be the geographical location of Africa?

The reason lies in (relatively) easily accessible resources and a government unwilling to think in terms of long-term planning, preferring instead to settle for immediate gain.

Incidentally, have you noticed how the United Arab Emirates operates? They, too, are rich in natural resources (oil). They invest the proceeds from oil sales into their own economy (tourism, for instance) and create conditions to attract business (such as a zero tax rate). What is stopping African countries from following that same example?

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.

Merely having resources is not enough; one must also know how to manage them skillfully.

The population is huge,there is knowledge etc.

Human capital is also one of the most valuable assets. If utilized correctly, it can yield immense benefits for boosting the country's prosperity. However, I am not sure exactly what kind of knowledge you are referring to; I do not recall African nations being leaders in education.

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.

Simply need to stop chasing personal enrichment. That’s all there is to it. And stop squabbling over power.

Imagine Africa as a continent is using one currency to trade amongst themselves.

You have somehow seamlessly shifted the topic to the subject of currency - specifically, a single currency. Which currency are you referring to? Perhaps the bitcoin,  which is set to become the common currency for all African nations? Officially, this is impossible. Unofficially, it has already happened.

[Oluwa-btc]

We keep seeing this discussion again and again but the answer is simple it is a place where every natural resource exists such as raw material but it is not alone enough to make profits, the government should export the products to others than raw material to increase revenue and also they need to focus on the local based compnaies over the corporates from other nations because they make money and take the money to their country.

If we're being serious, we shouldn't be exporting these raw materials but I'm slightly happy with those who tries to get these mineral resources with respect and negotiating in the right way other than those who do with a lot of aggression, propaganda  and damage on human lives. If China a big nation with this massive growth is not exporting their raw mineral resources but rather used to build up themselves, and make profits from their trades, we should also emulate that but then, Democracy built on lies in other to get these mineral resources do not want to see that happening.

[blockman]

African countries is like my country, the Philippines. We've got vast natural resources but our government doesn't know how to manage it for the sake and welfare of its people. Because of corrupt politicians, they're the only ones who are flourishing with their lives due to the kickback and the conditions that they're giving to those who benefits from our own resources. We're rich in these things but because of incompetence of the leaders, there's mismanagement and we as people aren't being put as the priority to benefit from it. And one example is about nickel, we're second in the world next to Indonesia. But what our government does is exporting it to China and they are selling it back to us more expensive and finish product. Might the government just get all of those manufacturers and build it here so the process goes in our country and we're the one who benefits from it as it will employ a lot of people. There's billions of deposits in one of our places in dollars we're talking here. If it's managed properly, we'd definitely see the impact of it economically.

[Agbamoni]

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.

The number one problem of most African countries is bad government and that have been the reason why African has been seen as a poor continent. The bad governments are only after making money and stealing billions of government funds instead of using this money to enrich their economy and make sure that every of their citizens get good education and start being productive state rather than relying on foreign aids that will be stolen later. If most of the corrupt leaders of the African continent can be erased and new ambitious ones come into power, Africa is going to change immediately and turn to world advanced continent.

For generations to come, the government will be the problem in most African countries. During colonization, it was the leaders of the African countries who sold the people to get wealth. Rumors have it that, indirectly, the colonization leaders are still in control of the happenings in most African countries.

In West Africa, the government has an 80% hand in the economic downgrade of the country. There are resources here that, if managed wisely, the countries will be strong economically.

[fruktik]

The problem of the leaders in the countries in Africa taking their money and other resources that was suppose to develop the counties to develop other parts of the world is what is really holding the development in the African countries back because the foreign countries benefiting from this corruption would not speak up but close then month and enjoy the development happening in their own country while the African countries keep on suffering in poverty. We can not depend on the leaders to help us anymore because all of them are corrupt and not trustworthy anymore. The development now has to come from within the people and not hope on the government anymore.

So what will these people do? Will they really stage a revolution? Even if there is such a demand in society, how will it all be financed?

In my country, everything is exactly the same as in African countries. But the population can't do anything about it. Those who tried to fight the "system" and expose corrupt officials are already dead or behind bars for years. The repressive machine is running at full speed. Therefore, people remain silent and don't stick their necks out unnecessarily, as it's life-threatening.

[Shineup]

African countries are not poor, I can talk about my country called the African giants and you could write a novel concerning how public funds are managed inappropriately for private benefits over using it for the right purposes.

Governments are the bad eyes in the system, and reason why most African countries are still poor and not looking like escaping extreme poverty and side effects that shows how poor countries are living.

Nigeria has mineral resources, good soil for planting and everything needed to make us one of the richest countries in the world, but specific individuals are playing greed, what good comes out from greedy politicians in government offices.

Nigeria is the most bless country in Africa, Nigeria would have be one of the richest country in the world if not for greed and corruption among the political leaders in the country, Nigeria also have talented people but lack the opportunity to bring it to spot light has been killed by the country they are in, Nigeria politicians are mostly the richest people in the country due to the public funds they are embezzling, we have oil we also have gas etc, we have all it takes to make us one the developed and richest country in the world.

I still remember when i was little hearing how Nigeria are being called the giant of Africa, growing up i realized we are not what they proclaimed in action when we are over shadowed by bad politicians who only think about themselves and their immediate family, they are not interested on what they can do for the interest of the poor masses, they have no shame and remorse for what they are doing. The country is blessed as we have all it takes to be better than where we are today no doubt, but human greed is exactly what is keeping us backward.

[hafiztalha]

We're not poor, but poor in managing resources? I can agree.

The biggest problem in Africa is not the lack of resources but the way that they are managed. But blaming the outer powers instead of over looking the responsibility of African government and institutions is not good. Weak infrastructure, corruption having weak accountability and ineffective policy are all playing a very major role in preventing the resources from transforming into better living standards and making economy better. Having United African currency can strengthen trade and economic corporation but they require economics stability and trust between countries. Europe has faced many challenges before adopting the euro. Responsible leadership, skilled human capital, strong institutions and better resource management are required for turning natural wealth into prosperity

[rachael9385]

Recently i was listening to a geographer as he was making an analogy on the size of Africa, he said africa is so big that five continents could fit into it. while that sounded very outrageous he also backed it up with facts, what's the point of making such reference? Africa is rich in all ramifications and we can be a sovereign continent but it is so sad that we have gotten so used to the idea of depending on different countries for a lot of things and as result of that we don't want to do what we are supposed to. Africa is blessed with a lot of mineral resources but the problem is poor management as a result of a poor leadership structure.