In what ways, over time, has Africa been governed?
In his book, Africa’s Long Road Since Independence, Keith Somerville gives an account of Africa’s historical journey from the late 1950s. He ultimately concludes: “Formal political structures have changed and some space has been created for popular participation, but the underlying informal structures of power remain strong, (thereby safeguarding) the hegemony of the gatekeeping elite…”
In short, Somerville is corroborating that Africa’s 54 sovereign states’ leaders have continuously diminished their countries.
Speaking at the United Nations’ General Assembly in 2019, Ghana’s President Akufo-Addo told the world: “In my part of the world, we do not argue over what constitutes poverty. We know it, we live it, feel it and it is a daily reality.” It takes an authentic leader to admit his country’s and region’s problems.
What is the manifestation of this sordid reality the president alludes to? What does one see in Africa?
Families that can hardly afford decent clothes. Even remnant political party T-shirts are won as best wear, not necessarily to celebrate even ruling parties. The basic right to food and nutrition is not guaranteed. Access to affordable healthcare is a privilege. The children of the poor are exposed to sub-standard education and eventually lack skills and jobs.
In 2018, Ghana’s president revealed that “30 per cent of the earth’s remaining minerals can be found on the continent (but) African people happen also to be the poorest in the world.” Recently, Thabo Mbeki chaired a panel on illicit flow of funds (IFFs) from Africa which reported that the continent loses more than US$50 billion annually.
President Akufo-Addo informs us that if many young people had a chance, they would migrate abroad. Many die as they walk the Sahara desert or row dingy canoes in the Mediterranean to reach Europe.
The dream of self-determination and self-reliance aspired by Nkurumah, Nasser, Nyerere, Lumumba, Sankara, Mandela and others, one could say, largely remains unrealised.
Hlumelo Biko, in Africa Reimagined: Reclaiming a Sense of Abundance and Prosperity, argues that African children must be taught about Egyptian black civilisation, which spanned the period between 4000BC and 400BC.
The author observes a people’s identity is defined by their lived history. Thus, to subjugate a people you must extinguish their history as you simultaneously plant a new history on their minds. To resurrect them then, you must resurrect their history, culture and consciousness.
In an article ‘Divine kingship and African governance: The example of Pharaonic Egypt’, Chinweizu sketches how Pharaonic Egypt was ruled. He observes: “The purpose of the Pharaonic state was to maintain and restore Maat-rightness in nature and righteousness in society.”
In ancient Egypt, office holders were subjected to a rigorous education founded on ethical values and a call to righteousness. The virtues taught Egyptian youth included “self-control, moderation, kindness, generosity, justice and truthfulness tempered with discretion.” Such future leaders were to avoid the cardinal vices of “greed, injustice/partiality, oppressing the poor/ exploiting the little people, laziness, abuse of authority etc.”
During the installation of the prime minister, he was instructed: ‘See to it that all is done according to law…’ Meritocracy was prized. Leaders were urged: “Do not prefer the wellborn to the commoner, choose a man on account of his skills.”
I have delved into Africa’s ancient past, albeit fleetingly, to share that good governance has firm foundations in the continent.
I have been fascinated by the career of the reigning president of Ghana. Since he was elected, he has begun to make a name on the African and indeed world stage. One could say he is a reincarnation of the venerated Africa’s founding leaders.
Why do I say so?
Akufo-Addo, who is serving his first term, began his rule by unveiling his key campaign promises: starting to establish a factory in each of the country’s 200 plus districts; rolling out free senior secondary education and in 2018 appointing a special prosecutor to deal with the corruption pandemic.
The president relies on the SDGs and the African Unions Agenda 2063 – The Africa We Want – to root for establishment of each African country’s own goals, objectives and socio-cultural and economic blueprint. A country’s leaders and her citizens must chart their common path together. It is said: when you don’t know where you are going, any path will take you there.
A message by Akufo-Addo, which has confounded many, is that foreign aid will take Africa nowhere.
The president boldly made this assertion before the French President Emmanuel Macron as follows: “We can no longer continue to make policy for ourselves, in our country, in our region, in our continent on the basis of whatever support that the Western world… can give us. It will not work.”
According to the President, only Africans can solve their own problems. Although the West and others may occasionally help, Akufo-Addo advises Africans: “If we work at it, if we stop being beggars, and spend Africa’s monies inside the continent, Africa would not need to ask for respect from anyone.”
From the West, the President asks for trade, as opposed to aid; “an equitable and fair-trading order.”
Also, he recommends African countries must trade together and strengthen their regional and continental organisations and other ties with one another. He advises Africa must establish an African Common Market and operationalise the Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.
Akufo-Addo exposes the perplexing statistic that: “In 2010, intra-regional trade accounted for 10 per cent of Africa’s total trade and increased marginally to 11 per cent in 2015.”
The President’s other passion concerns Africa’s young population, most of whom are unemployed. He advocates for quality education that will guarantee employability. Hence education must produce dependable skills and jobs one can enjoy and live on.
For me, Akufo-Addo is one of Africa’s foremost ambassadors to the world. As he has prayerfully remarked: “It is time to make Africa work.” This is not a big task by African citizens to their leaders.
Prof Kibwana is governor of Makueni County
