on "Why Africa Is Losing its Dignity" (Apr. 21, 2009)
Although I agree with the central theme of the article, which is that only Africans can develop Africa, I would like to make the following points:
A. The West does not seem to want the real development of Africa.
- Development Aid is used by the donor nations sometimes to achieve foreign policy objectives which in most cases are not favourable to the development of the recipient nations.
For example, linking free trade to aid has been very destructive to local industrial and agricultural capacities in Africa.
Another example, is the EU agreement on fishing rights with nations like Senegal which allows European vessels to fish off the coast of the country. That agreement has been very detrimental to the livelihood of fishing communities on the coast of Senegal and is partly responsible for the very many young people in that country seeking to migrate to Europe illegally.
- Efforts at regional economic and political integration in Africa, which are very important for development, are being sabotaged by the ex-colonial powers. For example, France has been very hostile to ECOWAS.
B. China and Africa
- I reject your comparison of China with Africa. China is a nation while Africa is a continent of diverse nations with very negative historic experiences of slavery and colonialism. Africa can, of course, learn from China, but it's unfair to compare the two. In fact, many countries in Africa because of the diversity of ethnicity are polarised nations. Hence, we talk of nation-building as an important step in the process of development.
C. The Aid Establishment
- You seems to be oblivious of the interest of the Aid Establishment to keep the present system going. I think many in the Establishment see their own survival in the continuation of the status quo.
D. The Good Aid.
I believe that assistance that goes into the fight against diseases, the improvement of primary health care and research into drugs such as those against malaria are very helpful. I also support assistance that goes into education, solar energy and transport infrastrucutre because they help Africans help themselves.
Why Africa Is Losing its Dignity
Although I agree with the central theme of the article, which is that only Africans can develop Africa, I would like to make the following points:
A. The West does not seem to want the real development of Africa.
- Development Aid is used by the donor nations sometimes to achieve foreign policy objectives which in most cases are not favourable to the development of the recipient nations.
For example, linking free trade to aid has been very destructive to local industrial and agricultural capacities in Africa.
Another example, is the EU agreement on fishing rights with nations like Senegal which allows European vessels to fish off the coast of the country. That agreement has been very detrimental to the livelihood of fishing communities on the coast of Senegal and is partly responsible for the very many young people in that country seeking to migrate to Europe illegally.
- Efforts at regional economic and political integration in Africa, which are very important for development, are being sabotaged by the ex-colonial powers. For example, France has been very hostile to ECOWAS.
B. China and Africa
- I reject your comparison of China with Africa. China is a nation while Africa is a continent of diverse nations with very negative historic experiences of slavery and colonialism. Africa can, of course, learn from China, but it's unfair to compare the two. In fact, many countries in Africa because of the diversity of ethnicity are polarised nations. Hence, we talk of nation-building as an important step in the process of development.
C. The Aid Establishment
- You seems to be oblivious of the interest of the Aid Establishment to keep the present system going. I think many in the Establishment see their own survival in the continuation of the status quo.
D. The Good Aid.
I believe that assistance that goes into the fight against diseases, the improvement of primary health care and research into drugs such as those against malaria are very helpful. I also support assistance that goes into education, solar energy and transport infrastrucutre because they help Africans help themselves.
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ven, 15 Jan 2010 - 17:07
on "Why Africa Is Losing its Dignity" (Apr. 21, 2009)
Although I agree with the central theme of the article, which is that only Africans can develop Africa, I would like to make the following points:
A. The West does not seem to want the real development of Africa.
- Development Aid is used by the donor nations sometimes to achieve foreign policy objectives which in most cases are not favourable to the development of the recipient nations.
For example, linking free trade to aid has been very destructive to local industrial and agricultural capacities in Africa.
Another example, is the EU agreement on fishing rights with nations like Senegal which allows European vessels to fish off the coast of the country. That agreement has been very detrimental to the livelihood of fishing communities on the coast of Senegal and is partly responsible for the very many young people in that country seeking to migrate to Europe illegally.
- Efforts at regional economic and political integration in Africa, which are very important for development, are being sabotaged by the ex-colonial powers. For example, France has been very hostile to ECOWAS.
B. China and Africa
- I reject your comparison of China with Africa. China is a nation while Africa is a continent of diverse nations with very negative historic experiences of slavery and colonialism. Africa can, of course, learn from China, but it's unfair to compare the two. In fact, many countries in Africa because of the diversity of ethnicity are polarised nations. Hence, we talk of nation-building as an important step in the process of development.
C. The Aid Establishment
- You seems to be oblivious of the interest of the Aid Establishment to keep the present system going. I think many in the Establishment see their own survival in the continuation of the status quo.
D. The Good Aid.
I believe that assistance that goes into the fight against diseases, the improvement of primary health care and research into drugs such as those against malaria are very helpful. I also support assistance that goes into education, solar energy and transport infrastrucutre because they help Africans help themselves.
Why Africa Is Losing its Dignity
Although I agree with the central theme of the article, which is that only Africans can develop Africa, I would like to make the following points:
A. The West does not seem to want the real development of Africa.
- Development Aid is used by the donor nations sometimes to achieve foreign policy objectives which in most cases are not favourable to the development of the recipient nations.
For example, linking free trade to aid has been very destructive to local industrial and agricultural capacities in Africa.
Another example, is the EU agreement on fishing rights with nations like Senegal which allows European vessels to fish off the coast of the country. That agreement has been very detrimental to the livelihood of fishing communities on the coast of Senegal and is partly responsible for the very many young people in that country seeking to migrate to Europe illegally.
- Efforts at regional economic and political integration in Africa, which are very important for development, are being sabotaged by the ex-colonial powers. For example, France has been very hostile to ECOWAS.
B. China and Africa
- I reject your comparison of China with Africa. China is a nation while Africa is a continent of diverse nations with very negative historic experiences of slavery and colonialism. Africa can, of course, learn from China, but it's unfair to compare the two. In fact, many countries in Africa because of the diversity of ethnicity are polarised nations. Hence, we talk of nation-building as an important step in the process of development.
C. The Aid Establishment
- You seems to be oblivious of the interest of the Aid Establishment to keep the present system going. I think many in the Establishment see their own survival in the continuation of the status quo.
D. The Good Aid.
I believe that assistance that goes into the fight against diseases, the improvement of primary health care and research into drugs such as those against malaria are very helpful. I also support assistance that goes into education, solar energy and transport infrastrucutre because they help Africans help themselves.
Femi Awoniyi
Editor-in-Chief
The African Courier