Disagreeing with Obama – Africa needs ‘strong’ men

The world today can boast of many advancements that have positively transformed the conditions of the human race. Talk of the internet, global positioning system (GPS), social networking, the exploits of nanotechnology, stem cell technology in medicine, mobile telephony, robotic science, shared services, etc. The list is indeed endless. These advancements when deployed for the right purposes make the lives of many across the globe better off.

The world has come very far but the distribution of development to better the lot of humanity is uneven along geo-political lines. Highly noticeable disparities exist in development accomplishments among nation states and continents. Measures such as the gross domestic product (GDP), per capita income, etc serve as yardsticks for comparison. Whilst these measures may themselves not reveal the actual pictures, they are the best measures available.

It is noteworthy that the existence of development disparities among countries in itself is not strange. Differences in available resources in the various countries, be they material, physical, financial, human resources, etc in a way support differences in levels of development. It is however the extent of disparities that present a case for concern. Huge developmental gaps exists among nations from the same as well as different continents. Whilst some are very developed, others are highly impoverished. The case of highly impoverished countries should and must be an issue of concern for all.

Africa presents an interesting paradox to the world in relation to its resources on one hand and level of development on the other. Natural resources abound on this continent like none other in the world; the second by way of population and geographical area, yet has the highest number of poor countries in the world. Talk of minerals such as gold, diamond, bauxite, manganese, etc and timber, oil, cocoa, coffee et al. The dexterity of the continent's human resources is a wonder to behold. What then is Africa's problem? Mismanagement!

Leaders of nations on the continent over the years have wreaked havoc by plundering wealth of their nations for themselves and cronies, leaving the masses to wallow in poverty. Evil greed has been at the center of Africa's woes. The 'create, loot and share' system has worked and continues to work perfectly well. Mismanagement, fraud, embezzlement, nepotism and favouritism which are all subsets of corruption have become institutionalized. Fighting this well-structured, blood-sucking, and nation-wrecking system will take effective and functioning institutions.

However, institutions do not exist in a vacuum. They are made up of and built by people. People make organizations and institutions function effectively, devoid of procedural lapses that can be exploited for selfish individual gains.

Therefore, I resolutely and emphatically state that Africa needs 'strong 'men (referring to both sexes). Strong, not by muscles and body size, but of character and courage to act without fear or favour. Systems, structures, styles, share values, strategies and skills are designed and developed by people, which McKinsey described in his 7S framework as 'staff'. People are the fulcrum that hold the machinery of institutions together. The time has come for Africa to mould people of strong character – people exhibiting a strong sense of courage, humility, honesty, loyalty, tolerance, truthfulness, faithfulness, integrity, etc. If Africa fails in producing 'strong' people, building strong institutions shall be a mirage and the quest for progress and development a sweet dream from which one wakes up to an agonizing reality of commonplace ignorance, poverty and disease.

So Prez. Obama, when you said in 2009 on your visit to Ghana that Africa does not need strong men but strong institutions; well, we certainly don't need the likes of Iddi Amin, Saani Abacha or Moboutou Sese Seko, but we need 'strong' men who exhibit an extraordinary sense of character to build our strong institutions.

Let's go for it, Africa.

Paul Edem Kuenyefu, a Development Enthusiast is an Entrepreneur, Writer and Motivational Speaker. He is the author of 'TO THE ZENITH', a motivational piece.
Email: pedem99 [at]gmail[dot]com