Many countries are engaged in a paradigm shift in the development of their societies, with focus on the well-being of the people. Many years ago, a country was said to be developed if it had physical structures such as skyscrapers, beautiful roads, airports, seaports and other material things.
Simply put, development is about people; that is, every development plan must target the people and ensure that they are lifted from the quagmire of poverty into a state of well-being.
In the middle of the last century, many African countries fought for self rule. These countries succeeded in their efforts to gain political freedom but the economic direction of those countries were still dictated by their colonial masters.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that in spite of the development dilemma facing the various governments on the continent, they are trying hard to initiate the processes that will end the suffering of the people.
We, however, urge our governments to re-focus on their development agenda so that the menace of disease, disaster, despair and death that have become the lot of many people on the continent will be things of the past.
Indeed, there are many positive attributes on the African continent that we can build on to leverage our development aspirations to achieve standards comparable to living conditions in the so-called advanced societies.
The DAILY GRAPHIC agrees with the statement President J.E.A. Mills made at the opening of the 7th African Economic Forum in Accra on Tuesday that “the era of political emancipation in Africa is over and now is the time to lift the people out of the quagmire of poverty”.
Unfortunately, as a continent, we have for far too long relied on economic action plans that are alien to our environment and so instead of accelerating the development process, these policies have retarded our progress.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks the time has come for African governments to look within and fashion out solutions to the development challenges facing the continent. The culture, biases and needs of Africans are different from those who live outside the continent and it is only prudent that we end our dependence on foreign donors for our survival.
We concede that Africa cannot be an island onto itself, but we should be seeking partnership with the rest of the world, instead of our dependence on them to provide for our needs.
There is abundance of arable land and other resources on the African continent and there is absolutely no reason African governments should go cup in hand begging for food handouts in the midst of plenty.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that all that we need now is a partnership of all African governments in the exploitation of the resources of the continent for the betterment of the people.
Africa has been liberated but the freedom will be meaningful only if the opportunities can help us to overcome the challenges of disease, poverty and squalor that bedevil the continent.
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