Avoiding The Octopus---A Case For Africa

Almost sixty years after the continent of Africa fought to achieve political liberation, the struggle for economic independence has become muddled for various reasons. One of the reasons in my view is that African countries have since fallen into the traps of complacency and dependency syndrome.

The power of colonialism is like that of a huge octopus with many powerful tentacles for capturing its prey. And once the prey is caught, there is no easy way it can escape. This is absolutely true of Africa.

In my view, the lesson that Africa should learn is not to be too close to this particular octopus in order to preserve the political independence on which the struggle for economic success can be achieved.

The brave decision taken by President Yahya Jammeh of Gambia in 2013 to withdraw from the Commonwealth is a small but wise step to move away from the grip of colonial influence. We must also not forget Zimbabwian President Robert Mugabe's struggle for his country's economic development which is now paying dividends.

In South Africa, "Mandelaism" is still stuck in the quagmire of Western ideology while the real economic issues related to land use by indigenous

people have become less important for the ANC administration to pursue vigorously.

I am strongly in favour of Yahya Jammeh's action that led him to avoid the powerful tentacles of the octopus as well as Julius Malema's bravery that led him to form his own political party to place land redistribution at the top of its political agenda. May the Almighty God and the ancestors of Africa help them to succeed.

Other African leaders must emulate their examples so we can move from the clutches of this "colonial master and servant situation".

Africa will never be developed as we would like if our leaders cannot make difficult and unpopular decisions that can loosen the colonial grip for the best interest of the people they serve.

The complicity of some African countries in the International Criminal Court affair does not not truly reflect the popular thinking that Africa must solve its own problems. And how could some African countries accept 3% or 5% royalty from foreign companies to exploit their God-given natural resources?

It is increasingly clear that some African leaders are creating difficult challenges that are likely to affect the good progress of others.

It is time for Africa to be at the forefront to determine its own future and destiny. We have the resources to build and we can do it without Western influence or interference. The quality of leadership in Africa is what is holding us back.

The octopus only seeks its interest with its powerful tentacles all the time and so Africa must be aware of this and take steps to get off its grips.

The time has has come for us to be afrocentric, do things our own way and find African solutions to Africa's problems. We must not be in a rush to go to the developed world to seek financial assistance because the Europeans and the Americans made the rules of the current world order and forced them on Africa.

Examples of such rules are the rules of the IMF and the World Bank which are designed for wealth creation for the developed world and not for Africa.

I am waiting for the withdrawal of my country Ghana from the Commonwealth.

I am waiting for the establishment of the African Monetary Fund(AMF).

I am waiting for the establishment of the African Criminal Court(ACC) to try corrupt leaders in Africa and the world.

And even most importantly, I am waiting for the total unification of the African continent.

May the Almighty God and the ancestors of Africa help us to succeed.

God bless Africa!