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

[fruktik]

It’s always easier to "blame an outside party"... But that doesn’t solve the problem, just like any other explanation that falls short of the real cause.

On the one hand, African countries are rich in resources. On the other hand, a resource-based economy is extremely inefficient, even when money is invested in it. To be more precise, it is significantly less efficient than an economy based on the production of finished goods with high added value that are in demand on the global market.
Another important point is that the economy requires investment! This investment can either come from within the country or be attracted from foreign investors. To attract foreign investors, it is necessary to create favorable conditions - effective laws, courts, the rule of law, stability, and security.

Now we can discuss how the economies of many African countries do not meet these very basic conditions.

The current leaders of African countries have absolutely no interest in development. They simply stick to a raw-material-based economy: extracting resources and selling them off. Why bother with other ways of generating income? After all, those require massive investment and time, whereas they want to live in luxury here and now.

African countries bear a striking resemblance to present-day Russia—they are practically twin brothers. There is no more accurate way to describe the situation.

And who would invest in a country that lacks laws protecting private property and individual rights? At any moment, you could lose a company you spent years building. Potential investors are well aware of this and have no desire to do business with these countries.

[Italian Panic]

The current leaders of African countries have absolutely no interest in development. They simply stick to a raw-material-based economy: extracting resources and selling them off. Why bother with other ways of generating income? After all, those require massive investment and time, whereas they want to live in luxury here and now.

African countries bear a striking resemblance to present-day Russia—they are practically twin brothers. There is no more accurate way to describe the situation.

And who would invest in a country that lacks laws protecting private property and individual rights? At any moment, you could lose a company you spent years building. Potential investors are well aware of this and have no desire to do business with these countries.

A few days ago, I read an article about the IQ levels in various African countries, which highlighted that these were half those of the United States and that the gap was even wider when compared with European and Eastern countries.
This is a great shame because African people are extraordinary and kind hearted; they’ll help others whenever they can. This supposed backwardness is due to the appalling management of revenue from raw materials, and politics certainly bears much of the blame. Our African friends should rise up against these despicable systems and demand a better life, because the resources of their various countries belong first and foremost to them.

[Nasdel4]

I believe UNITY amongst Africans will foster growth and development in Africa as a whole just like the system Europe thrives on. African countries even as independent states should see themselves as one in order to cleanse themselves of the colonial rule entirely because I believe that's one of the major reasons why the development of Africa is slow.
With all the minerals exported from the continent on a daily basis, the returns are not visibly impacting the lives of African rather only few benefits from this an those are the ones in power. There are no checks on institutions thereby aiding them steal proceeds from these sales of minerals.
The wealth of the continent isn't distributed as it should be and if a single person decides to make a change, the person is immediately tagged and enemy of the country and silenced immediately.
The problem comes from within, lack of unity amongst Africans and the externals are using this against Africans without them realising it. The strongest countries aren't independent entities but part of other independent states that come together to form a coalition in order to protect it's interests and foster their growth and development to give themselves and their citizens better lives which Africans then run to for greener pastures. When they run to this countries in search for greener pastures, they become slaves to them with no rights and barely little privileges to thrive on .

[Princess Leah]

I believe UNITY amongst Africans will foster growth and development in Africa as a whole just like the system Europe thrives on. African countries even as independent states should see themselves as one in order to cleanse themselves of the colonial rule entirely because I believe that's one of the major reasons why the development of Africa is slow.
With all the minerals exported from the continent on a daily basis, the returns are not visibly impacting the lives of African rather only few benefits from this an those are the ones in power. There are no checks on institutions thereby aiding them steal proceeds from these sales of minerals.

If only the colonial masters would allow Africa be united and most of our Africa leaders stop letting their greed and personal interests give the colonial masters from the western world the opportunity of using them like puppets and against the interest/growth of Africa. The strength of a United African continent with good leaders would be spectacular, but bad leaders is still a hinderance, hopefully Africa would be free from the chains of bad leadership someday.

The wealth of the continent isn't distributed as it should be and if a single person decides to make a change, the person is immediately tagged and enemy of the country and silenced immediately.
The problem comes from within, lack of unity amongst Africans and the externals are using this against Africans without them realising it. The strongest countries aren't independent entities but part of other independent states that come together to form a coalition in order to protect it's interests and foster their growth and development to give themselves and their citizens better lives which Africans then run to for greener pastures. When they run to this countries in search for greener pastures, they become slaves to them with no rights and barely little privileges to thrive on .

The colonial masters are really kicking against that based on their interests in Africa's resources and their greedy puppets are the ones they use in silencing leaders with good intentions, but the citizens of Africa are no longer blinded and people are beginning to understand the root of Africa's mismanagement of resources and underdevelopment, sooner or later we'll witness liberation cause people are becoming tired of the modern day slavery, Africa's resources should be used in developing African countries not exported to the western world and the funds looted by bad governments.

[DrBeer]

It’s always easier to "blame an outside party"... But that doesn’t solve the problem, just like any other explanation that falls short of the real cause.

On the one hand, African countries are rich in resources. On the other hand, a resource-based economy is extremely inefficient, even when money is invested in it. To be more precise, it is significantly less efficient than an economy based on the production of finished goods with high added value that are in demand on the global market.
Another important point is that the economy requires investment! This investment can either come from within the country or be attracted from foreign investors. To attract foreign investors, it is necessary to create favorable conditions - effective laws, courts, the rule of law, stability, and security.

Now we can discuss how the economies of many African countries do not meet these very basic conditions.

The current leaders of African countries have absolutely no interest in development. They simply stick to a raw-material-based economy: extracting resources and selling them off. Why bother with other ways of generating income? After all, those require massive investment and time, whereas they want to live in luxury here and now.

African countries bear a striking resemblance to present-day Russia—they are practically twin brothers. There is no more accurate way to describe the situation.

And who would invest in a country that lacks laws protecting private property and individual rights? At any moment, you could lose a company you spent years building. Potential investors are well aware of this and have no desire to do business with these countries.

I would also point out another very important issue: the ongoing attempts to shift or pin the blame for what is happening on some "elusive" colonial governments. Until you acknowledge the real cause of the problem, you won’t be able to solve the problem itself. It’s been 60 years without colonial status or a colonial government. The country is governed by its own citizens, not by puppets.
Things are going badly.... Maybe we need to start openly admitting to ourselves that the problem isn’t where it’s CONVENIENT to point it out, but where it actually lies?
In the USSR, the West was always blamed for every problem, even though it wasn’t the West that supplied us with substandard products, paid Soviet citizens starvation wages, or restricted our rights...
But we always blamed the West for everything! Until we realized that it was actually us and the authorities we worshipped-the very ones who had been deceiving us for decades and turning us into spineless slaves of the regime. I very much hope that African countries will emerge from this situation, gaining true freedom from corrupt authorities, and become full-fledged participants in the global economy and prosper! But to achieve this, they will have to draw some unpleasant conclusions and take some difficult actions.

[Sobz]

Our leaders doesn't want to stop stealing and that's why we haven't been able to progress, we have voted and elected too many greedy people into power, I won't blame the people that colonized or discovered us, but we should instead address the cockroaches in our cupboard, which is the bad leaders, they are the ones stealing all the resources. Africa isn't poor, God has blessed us with minerals that we can used to uplift and build our country. But we give power to the wrong people that lack vision, empathy, education and leadership that's why we are still not progressing and we should understand that we are the leaders of tomorrow, we should learn from everything happening now in the politics, we are the future and we shouldn't get greedy when it gets to our turn.

Something needs to happen for a transformation to take place in Africa. Leaders dont just changed from a corrupt ones to good ones, thrir needs to be pressure of change that will lead to the transformation of good leadership. One thing i jave notice about the common Africans they are being intimidated by the government and they csnt confronted them and this why Africa is still suffering from the hands of bad government.  The leaders will always want to do things just the way they feel like because the people ate bring silent.

[Alpha1999]

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.

I think the bigger problem of Africa is not geography but exploitation over time.Colonialism left a very deep impact on African economy.But now African  leaders should focus to shift its natural resources to its economic strength.Instead of exporting raw materials to world and then buying from them they should invest in their industries technology education and infrastructure.If all African states increase their trade with each other and move towards common currency then their economic cooperation will be strengthen to some level but only currency fixing will not fix these deeper issues alone.It needs political stability good leadership and trust among themselves.

[Queen Julie]

Our leaders doesn't want to stop stealing and that's why we haven't been able to progress, we have voted and elected too many greedy people into power, I won't blame the people that colonized or discovered us, but we should instead address the cockroaches in our cupboard, which is the bad leaders, they are the ones stealing all the resources. Africa isn't poor, God has blessed us with minerals that we can used to uplift and build our country. But we give power to the wrong people that lack vision, empathy, education and leadership that's why we are still not progressing and we should understand that we are the leaders of tomorrow, we should learn from everything happening now in the politics, we are the future and we shouldn't get greedy when it gets to our turn.

Something needs to happen for a transformation to take place in Africa. Leaders dont just changed from a corrupt ones to good ones, thrir needs to be pressure of change that will lead to the transformation of good leadership. One thing i jave notice about the common Africans they are being intimidated by the government and they csnt confronted them and this why Africa is still suffering from the hands of bad government.  The leaders will always want to do things just the way they feel like because the people ate bring silent.

Total impeachment or elimination of the African leaders will happen for change to happen. The last time an elimination of an African leader happened, the country changed for good because the next person who wants to rule will be afraid of dying if he doesn't do what is right for the country. In as much as violence is not to be supported, a precedent needs to be set so that other aspiring leaders will learn.

The root of corruption has eaten deep into the African leaders. The citizens are now more corrupt than the leaders. This is not a problem of changing the leaders. It is a problem of changing the mentality of everyone.

[leonair]

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.

I agree that Africa has a lot of mineral resources and human resources. However, it is not the case that only if these are used properly, the country will become a developed country. Corruption, political instability, abuse of law, these issues hinder a country from utilizing its resources properly. Not only in Africa, but also in most countries in Asia, there is a lot of corruption and due to their political instability, the countries cannot be considered developed countries and the people of that country cannot live a good life. However, countries in every continent, Africa and Asia, have a lot of mineral resources but they cannot extract and use them properly because the level of corruption in those countries is very high. To properly govern a country, first of all, to build a corruption-free government is the most important thing, and Africa is still lagging behind in these areas.

[coupable]

Absolutely Africa is not poor but we are not always lucky to be blessed with good leaders that can make things go the right way for us.

Talking about good leaders, my question are who are the good once? Why I said this is because naturally I believe no man was born to be heartless or wicked everyone made their choices and decisions based on how life has treated them and this leadership we are talking about how do we know tge good one because I believe we human we are 2 sided and u never know a man’s true colour till he has held power even the once’s so close to us lost at times our own family members when most of them taste power you begin to see different the problem is mot just good leader but who can control himself over the power he’s holding.

You make a valid point, and I agree that there aren't many African leaders (maybe nobody) who have truly contributed to the growth and development the economy of their nation without to contradict with their own interests. Those who led or took part in the fight for national liberty to gain independence from foreign colonialism are the only good examples of great leaders we have heard of. But when it comes to creating the proper economic model, they are all either corrupt or foreign agents engaging in establishing neocolonialism.

I live in an African country and I am sad when saying this, but this is the truth.

[fruktik]

I would also point out another very important issue: the ongoing attempts to shift or pin the blame for what is happening on some "elusive" colonial governments. Until you acknowledge the real cause of the problem, you won’t be able to solve the problem itself. It’s been 60 years without colonial status or a colonial government. The country is governed by its own citizens, not by puppets.
Things are going badly.... Maybe we need to start openly admitting to ourselves that the problem isn’t where it’s CONVENIENT to point it out, but where it actually lies?
In the USSR, the West was always blamed for every problem, even though it wasn’t the West that supplied us with substandard products, paid Soviet citizens starvation wages, or restricted our rights...
But we always blamed the West for everything! Until we realized that it was actually us and the authorities we worshipped-the very ones who had been deceiving us for decades and turning us into spineless slaves of the regime. I very much hope that African countries will emerge from this situation, gaining true freedom from corrupt authorities, and become full-fledged participants in the global economy and prosper! But to achieve this, they will have to draw some unpleasant conclusions and take some difficult actions.

Are the people of African nations truly ready to fight against corrupt rulers? It is no simple matter. It requires a genuine battle—one that will inevitably result in bloodshed. Those in power will never simply hand over control to the common people.

It is extremely difficult for an impoverished and disenfranchised populace to organize and unite to overthrow their oppressors. As things stand, I do not see even the slightest signs of this happening. The authorities are adept at suppressing such sentiments and sowing discord within society.

[Outhue]

Africa is poor not because they are lazy people, but africa consists of the most greedy people in the world and that's why Africa is poor, people who have the power and access to Africa natural resources are stealing all they can die their own upcoming generation to keep enriching themselves, the greedy is very intact that they don't want anything good for someone's else, the majority problem that's currently affecting my country is no different from what I am talking about right here.

[Conqueror777]

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.

Europe and other countries have been stealing from Africans and opressing them. IMO Africa is rich; it's just the West that wants to control it and it's resources.

[Localhostspeed]

Something needs to happen for a transformation to take place in Africa. Leaders dont just changed from a corrupt ones to good ones, thrir needs to be pressure of change that will lead to the transformation of good leadership. One thing i jave notice about the common Africans they are being intimidated by the government and they csnt confronted them and this why Africa is still suffering from the hands of bad government.  The leaders will always want to do things just the way they feel like because the people ate bring silent.

What kind of transformation are you talking about? You mean all the leaders are bad? Let's assume that's true, who are you expecting to change Africa? These followers? I beg to differ, it will not work because an average followers in Africa are the same with leaders. How do you think the people that becomes leaders won the heart of people across all the countries? It's because they made promises. They told people they were good people before they became leaders and everything change when they got there.

My opinion might be controversial but I will be happy if we get another colonialism, it was bad I know but there was transparency, there was projects, there was bad things but what bad things could be compare to the struggles many African countries are seeing. We need at least 50 years to see how they make the countries work maybe after then, everyone will come back to their sentences and do whats right for their country and for Africa.