Democracy: the chain around the neck of African nations

The white man does not understand the black man and the black man does not understand the white man. Understanding comes from sharing the daily life of the other party able to look behind the obvious not imposing their values onto and into foreign countries. White leaders have never lived in the world of the black man only during colonial times did representatives of white decision-makers see the outside of the occupied societies through the windows of their luxurious homes and cars.

African countries, especially in the Saharan region, were used to the rule of local chiefs or regional kings, for better or for worse. The struggle for independence brought a new African elite back to the continent most of which not from a royal background. The white man enjoyed the benefit of democracy and the new African elite saw it as a tool, a ladder to climb on, and when ending the wars of independence to be the master of the new political process of their nations with the backing of the white men they used to rub shoulders with in universities and churches of the white man.

Democracy in the world of the white man went through various stages with setbacks and progress. Many forms of democracy exist in the world of the white man. These developments lasted generations and never came in one day. They more or less succeeded fast in e.g. Singapore, South Korea, and France, long time in the UK, etc. but differ in their core and required conditions very much from African societies. What works well, over time, for some societies does not necessarily need to work in others nor be of benefit to all nations around the world at a certain given period in their development. The toolbox of history must be opened and the tools must be rearranged to help a particular nation better.

Democracy in Africa helps the white man best to keep the African countries under their control and the African leaders in their pockets. The new African elite trained in the world of the white man uses the opportunity to become rich and famous at the ballot box well observed by the white man. Occasionally in coups, the old tradition of African countries finds a way out of mud into the light of the moment.

"If you fine me heavily like in Singapore for dumping refuge into the environment I will not vote for you again in the future general election. How do you want to make Accra the cleanest city in Africa this is your problem. But I warn you: don't touch me!" Charles dumped his plastics into the open gutter near Circle in Accra. "I need your vote," said the politician. "You want to sit at the seat to steal money from the nation, I know my good friend!" Both had a good laugh.

Africans are not time-conscious. I lived for close to six years in Ghana and wasted one year waiting for people to honor meeting times. Eliminating traffic problems and still calculating the productivity loss to the nation caused by poor time management Ghana loses each year Millions if not Billions of $. The white man is not responsible for this macroeconomic loss. Ineffective management administration adds to the loss of the nation while a simple mindset change could boost the economy and society at large.

"Which currency in Germany do you have?" asked the police officer in Sakumono Estate indicating he would only work on my complaint if Euros were paid. "My work of course for free but if I should find an envelope from you on my desk I would not mind!" said the Technical Director of Ghana Cocobod to me having asked for help with our cocoa plantation project (which failed due to the corruption of the late local chief).

Corruption in Africa is rampant more than in the world of the white man from the bottom to the top of society. Laws against corruption are in place but enforced only to political taste. Parties and politicians depend on the income from corruption to stay in power and enjoy the good life above the rest of the voters. Democracy in this case is the engine oil that makes their luxurious cars roll on and on. Regardless of the political logos and outcry in public to end corruption in the country behind closed doors opponents of the light at night with champagne are buddies and cousins dancing to the same melody.

Democracy in most African countries is not helping the nations. Most Africans need the hand of a loving and caring father with a touch hand interested in seeing them develop well not their Swiss bank account. The right mindset makes a people grow and grow fast before the correct instruments, political, social, cultural, and economic can direct the progressive positive changes.

Parties are an abstract construct while elected kings can be touched.