WHAT MAKES AFRICA LAGS BEHIND
There are thousands of reasons as to why Africa is crawling towards developmental issues in about almost every sector while other continents are actually "sprinting" albeit painfully for some countries. The reasons although are many, there are some which if not handled is a recipe for disaster in terms of development. The reasons are brief and as follows:
HIGH POPULATION GROWTH
This is one of the saddest stories of our times. Although some will argue that it is a pool of labour that will generate economic growth but I beg to differ. The reason is that the rate of growth is not in tandem with economic growth especially when it comes to employment opportunities availability. The firmly embedded culture of leaving behind as many offspring as possible in the belief that one will eventually succeed and help the others or simply for the sake of it is hampering efforts to stagnate the population implosion. The truth of the matter is that high fertility rates actually put a stress on the little development that occurs and easily eliminates any benefit that had been gained. The economic conditions cannot just absorb and afford every person a decent living which means having a good disposable income that will improve that GDP.
BAD POLITICS
It is called the politics of patronage, revenge and our time to eat.With such a political background which unfortunately is a vicious cycle which has failed to be broken even by determined leaders who end up imitating their hated predecessors.
GEOPOLITICS
With the silent return of "cold war" between the east, the west and the developing countries, every decision comes with "terms and conditions" which negatively or positively affects the developmental policies of African countries. Trading decisions are even blocked since it could lead to denial of AID.With such a complex geopolitical environment, by the time a good policy is put to the table and implemented, it would be watered down or gathered dust in the shelves for some years.
TRIBALISM and NEPOTISM
It is the thorn that went too deep in the flesh and removing it will mean sudden death. It is the card with the Golden touch which is played close to the chest with unimaginable results namely, destruction, hatred, war, genocide, lopsided development, winning elections, alienating people, employment etc..
EDUCATION
The education system that most countries in Africa uses abhors creativity and other alternatives to being useful to the society. The education system in place only emphasises on passing, passing and passing with the belief that it will lead to a good job which means that people are learning to so as to get employed and not the vice versa which is more of throwing stones in a glass house since in the end there would be more job seekers than creators. Furthermore it has made many people to cheat in their examinations so employers could potentially be employing the wrong guys basing on their academic certificates.
OVERDEPENDENCE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
The fact of the matter is that natural resources do indeed uplift a country's economy in many ways but the problem is that their is a tendency to mismanage the resources which means it is usually mismanaged if not plundered and it is the cause of so many civil wars in the African continent. The continent should embrace ways to develop the service sector.
There are thousands of reasons as to why Africa is crawling towards developmental issues in about almost every sector while other continents are actually "sprinting" albeit painfully for some countries. The reasons although are many, there are some which if not handled is a recipe for disaster in terms of development. The reasons are brief and as follows:
HIGH POPULATION GROWTH
This is one of the saddest stories of our times. Although some will argue that it is a pool of labour that will generate economic growth but I beg to differ. The reason is that the rate of growth is not in tandem with economic growth especially when it comes to employment opportunities availability. The firmly embedded culture of leaving behind as many offspring as possible in the belief that one will eventually succeed and help the others or simply for the sake of it is hampering efforts to stagnate the population implosion. The truth of the matter is that high fertility rates actually put a stress on the little development that occurs and easily eliminates any benefit that had been gained. The economic conditions cannot just absorb and afford every person a decent living which means having a good disposable income that will improve that GDP.
BAD POLITICS
It is called the politics of patronage, revenge and our time to eat.With such a political background which unfortunately is a vicious cycle which has failed to be broken even by determined leaders who end up imitating their hated predecessors.
GEOPOLITICS
With the silent return of "cold war" between the east, the west and the developing countries, every decision comes with "terms and conditions" which negatively or positively affects the developmental policies of African countries. Trading decisions are even blocked since it could lead to denial of AID.With such a complex geopolitical environment, by the time a good policy is put to the table and implemented, it would be watered down or gathered dust in the shelves for some years.
TRIBALISM and NEPOTISM
It is the thorn that went too deep in the flesh and removing it will mean sudden death. It is the card with the Golden touch which is played close to the chest with unimaginable results namely, destruction, hatred, war, genocide, lopsided development, winning elections, alienating people, employment etc..
EDUCATION
The education system that most countries in Africa uses abhors creativity and other alternatives to being useful to the society. The education system in place only emphasises on passing, passing and passing with the belief that it will lead to a good job which means that people are learning to so as to get employed and not the vice versa which is more of throwing stones in a glass house since in the end there would be more job seekers than creators. Furthermore it has made many people to cheat in their examinations so employers could potentially be employing the wrong guys basing on their academic certificates.
OVERDEPENDENCE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
The fact of the matter is that natural resources do indeed uplift a country's economy in many ways but the problem is that their is a tendency to mismanage the resources which means it is usually mismanaged if not plundered and it is the cause of so many civil wars in the African continent. The continent should embrace ways to develop the service sector.
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