MY CONTRIBUTION TO BUILDING TODAY, A BETTER AFRICA OF

TOMORROW
INTRODUCTION
Africa is the world’s second largest and second most populous continent
with a land mass of 11.7 million square miles and 1.2 billion people
respectively (Kaneda, Toshiko; Bietsch, Kristin (2016). According to Lipase
(1963), population has a huge effect on economic development and growth
of any society. Therefore, based on the demographic figures aforementioned,
adequate economic measures need to be put in place to aid development in
Africa.
Over the years a lot has been said in relation to making Africa a better,
productive and safe continent to live in. Solutions such as job creation,
leadership improvement, constitutional change, energy reforms,
infrastructure, capital investment, security, energy improvement, etc, have
been proffered. Yet all attempts to implement these reforms seem futile
given the low standard of living therein. This paper highlights a few causes
and potential remedies required to develop Africa as a continent, and more
emphasis laid on eradicating corruption and bad governance.
CORRUPTION AND BAD GOVERNANCE
It is well known that Africa is falling behind the rest of the world in terms of
economic wellbeing. Even though global poverty is declining due to
economic growth in India, China and other parts of the world, Africa’s
contribution to this decline is disappointing (Sachs 2005).
The contributing factors towards Africa’s underdevelopment are,
 Corruption and bad governance
 Insecurity
 Consumption rather that production
 Unemployment
 Power instability (Energy)
 High level of illiteracy
In my opinion, besides an imminent revolution, none of Africa’s issues can
be resolved without a total overhaul in the mode of leadership and
governance in Africa. Besides poor policy formulation and planning, the
major problem is that Africa is at the mercy of aimless leaders who are
incapable of implementing the government policies and this has kept Africa
in its current state.
Most African countries practice a mixed economic and political system
(capitalism and socialism). However, key sectors which contribute
immensely to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) are owned and controlled
by the government. Hence, putting into perspective the perennial acts of
corrupt practices by the leaders, Africa will remain stagnant, and potential
feasible policies will remain futile until adequate remedial measures are
taken.
The political leaders lack the commitment and patriotism for the
development of Africa. If the revenue generated in Africa was judiciously
managed by the African leaders, the level of development would have
increased, hence boosting the standard of living in the African population.
Mismanagement of funds gotten from Foreign Direct Investments such as
the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, African Development Bank,
etc, tells a lot about their morals and competency levels. Despite the foreign
aids, Sub-Saharan Africa remains the least successful region of the world in
reducing poverty ($1.25 per day); with about 50% of the population living
in abject poverty in 1981, a figure which rose to 58% in 1996 before
dropping to 50% in 2005 (ERA 2006).
MY CONTRIBUTION TO A BETTER AFRICA
Africa can only be better when institutions directly related to the current
state of underdevelopment are strengthened and loopholes to corruption
are covered. Suggestions on how to control corruption and other areas of
good governance are:
 Introduce transparency and accountability in government functions,
particularly in all financial transactions and elections.
 Encourage a free press and electronic media to forcefully report to the
public on corrupt practices in the society;
 Minimize and simplify government regulations, particularly those
involving the issuance of licenses, permits and preferential positions,
thereby restricting opportunities for rent seeking by corrupt means.
 Insert anti-bribery clauses into all major procurement contracts and
with the assistance of both international financial institutions and
bilateral aid agencies insist that international corporations, bidding on
 African procurement contracts, accept such clauses and the penalties
associated with their violation.
 Declaration of Assets: The state should require that all high-level
officials (Presidents, Ministers, Legislative officers, Police and
Customs Chiefs, Military Generals), sign a statement granting
permission to banks (both local and foreign), real estate or investment
house to disclose any personal assets they may hold.
 Withholding of Aid: International donors (the IMF and World Bank)
can be helpful by cutting off completely distribution of assistance to
any country marked for high-level corruption;
 Ensure that technocrats are in charge of government parastatals,
agencies and ministries accordingly to boost productivity.
 More government revenue should be spent on capital expenditure to
boost infrastructural development rather than a large percentage on
recurrent expenditure which deepens poverty as witnessed in many
African nations.
 Developmental footprint on Agriculture for food production is
pertinent since Africa is blessed with fertile land. This will boost
employment figures and thus reduce poverty.

CONCLUSION
The Low life expectancy rate in Africa is a reflection of poverty and this is a
result of placing square pegs in round holes in roles of leadership. Corrupt
activities contribute significantly to the perpetuation of poverty and other
inherent social problems, and only if discontinued will Africa become a
better place. On a lighter note, the leaders need to find a moral standing by
creating a value system across the continent.
However, corrupt leaders who remain adamant need to be prosecuted by
law, as this would serve as a deterrent.