Africa’s Resources: Blessing or Curse?

Sometimes I sit back and wonder whether we Africans are cursed or blessed. In particular, are our natural resources a blessing or a curse? Despite the plentiful resources in the continent of Africa, its people are living in abject poverty. The few elite enjoy the resources and exploit the underprivileged majority. This is a menace that crept into this continent during the days of colonialism, imperialism and neo-colonialism. However, we cannot always blame the imperialists for the backwardness encountered currently, for how long shall we continue to lick our wounds? Africa is experiencing a new transition, but some of its leaders are yet to develop from this imperialist tendency. They amassed wealth like the imperialists; like the colonialists they match-boxed power and dictate the will and pleasure of the people.

Liberia is my country and Africa is my terrain. This little space on the West Coast of Africa is rich not just with gold, but iron ore, diamonds, and oil. It has one of the largest annual rainfalls, its forest is hugely rich. The fertility of the soil is so huge that a seed of an orange that comes into contact with the soil germinates almost immediately.  Now, it is astonishing that the living conditions of the people are so backward.  This country is far smaller than Texas in the United States of America but has an absolute advantage in terms of resources in international markets. Why can’t our resources be used to develop the country and improve the lives of the people? It has been reported that about 60% of the country’s rain forests have been granted to logging companies, but what lies in it for the ordinary citizens is unclear. The Global Witness, an environmental watchdog organization, warned in the earliest part of September 2012 that 40% of the forest land has been sold in secretive or illegal contracts. This key issue contributed to the country’s descent into anarchy in the past. More than 250,000 lives were lost and more lives are still being lost due to poor health facilities, bad road conditions and poor infrastructure. Today, the self-acclaimed freedom fighter Charles Taylor is lying behind bars for crimes against humanity. For those of us who come from an impoverished community, due to the lack of proper management of resources, many still believe that poverty is an inheritance.

Across the African landscape

The problems of mismanaging state resources and funds is found across Africa. From the East to the West, North to South, the same stories are told as though there was a general agreement between leaders to behave in the same form and manner. Sometimes it appears as though it is the richness of our resources that is hunting us and subjecting us to poverty. Corruption has become ingrained in the societies we find ourselves.

The situation at the Marikana mine supports this thesis. Black people in South Africa fought a tough battle against apartheid. The story told today is different, the Blacks are in power and are being led by the ANC (who I have an unflinching love for) but ordinary miners are today striking against poor wages. Thirty-four people lost their lives in this struggle.  South Africa is very rich in natural resources as well, so why are its people so poor and still living in shantytowns?

I think that resources are not a curse for the African people but a blessing that has been mismanaged by its bureaucrats. With the increasingly difficult living conditions across the continent, conscious minded youth recognise that the continent needs an economic emancipation, and this will surely come one day!