An- Insight A rejoinder to LA Times Article on “Independence”.
LA Times; The objective analyses on eco-political situation in Africa, made by this paper, with special reference to Ghana, undoubtedly would help to serve as a guide, to correcting the unpardonable mistakes of naked public treasury robbery and corruption, often carried out with impunity in the several political echelons in Africa; problems when solved would help enhance development efforts; for a dollar stolen from public treasury is a dollar denied in terms of breakfast for an African child. I'm not an Nkrumaist: where the article failed to inform the public were efforts in terms of planning, execution and financing towards "Total Liberation of Africa". In my view, Ghana’s first President, Kwame Nkrumah had to turn to the East, or call it the KGB, to enable him uproot the deep rooted colonialism and its legacy on the continent, contributing to free other nations, such as South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe from oppressive colonial rule.
The wind of change which blew over the continent, after the second world war, fought to establish a NEW WORLD ORDER of democracy, freedom and justice, sent home a message to Africans to struggle for their freedom, knowing that freedom, in man’s history, has never been known to be handed over on a sliver-platter; (American war of Independence revisited) Therefore, Nkrumah, shrewd as he was, seized the opportunity offered by the cold war conflict, between East and West, to give priority attention to African Liberation struggle; his unselfish desire to see others gain liberty, indisputably, affected his internal policies; his introduction of repressive programs, like preventive detention act to silence his political opponents contributed to his down fall, and also the systematic indirect sanctions applied by his western adversaries, leading to a near-grounding of Ghana’s economy, presumably lead to his over-throw.
Admittedly, there were high incidences of corruption, during the time and as being observed till today on the continent, and the days associated with preceding civilian/military autocratic rules in Ghana. Through-out its agonizing political maneuvers in Ghana since in dependence in 1957, many of its citizens lived under extreme injustices and oppression, suffered political humiliations and human rights violations and untimely death, in some cases, which were worse than in the NAZI concentration camps. Yes, Ghana has a reason to celebrate its 50 years of Independence; a period ushering in peace and stability, granting parliamentary democracy, and a constitution, protecting civil liberties: a period seeing a “dream come true”, freeing Africa from colonialism.
Soviet-bloc
Should Nkrumah be blamed for turning to the then Soviet bloc for help? There was no other option on the table. He had to seize the golden opportunity offered by the cold war, when the Soviets, as according to War Historians, searched for an opportunity to pay-back their allied war colleagues in their own coins over what they termed as “betrayal and treachery” over the atomic-bomb drop on Japan without keeping them in the picture; the historian have claimed, the Russians seemingly had other plans for Japan; perhaps to overrun and annex it, after conquering Berlin. Russians are said to be still holding some Japanese islands.
In Africa, the academicians have claimed, the Soviets walked-in, followed by the Marxist -Lenin ideology; just like the colonization of Africa had in its trail, the powerful business empires, which gleefully and gainfully joined in the said rape of Africa... over ambitious Nkrumah to impress upon his new found comrades, changed into Stalin tunic suit, and is on record sadly, to have introduced one-party state, imprisoned his political opponents: stiffen freedom of expression and silenced the press, launching a campaign for indoctrination of the youth, through “young pioneer ship: his industrialization program hitting a hard rock,--a complete fiasco.
Political analysts’ have claimed, Nkrumah couldn’t exercise effective control over his cabinet members, allowing them a free-for-all to turn the political arena into a gold-mine, as seen in other African countries, like the exploits of late, Mobutu of Congo Kinshasa. While Mobutu is on record to have siphoned off over $3 billion to foreign banks, especially to Swiss, just like other African head of states. France, Britain, Belgium, USA continue to protect their interest in Africa. (Dutch-British owned Shell in Nigeria’s delta and Death and overthrow of Patrick Lumumba of Congo revisited). Wasn’t Kwame Nkrumah overthrown by the CIA, during the tenor of black American ambassador to Ghana, Franklin Williams, and La times?
Ghana/Malaysia
Some commentaries on Ghana/ Malaysia take-off from independence raise some sort of concerns; comparisons, at times made between the two, appear not only quite unjust but unfair: while Malaysia might have had a smooth-take off and soft landing, Ghana found itself in a sort of quire- mire because of her leading role in African liberation struggle: Ghana walked in a mine-field full of traps, some leading to near economic boycott or stagnation by its Western political adversaries, who still have greater vested interest in African natural resources. Ghana had to sacrifice in terms of finance, planning and training, struggling to free other African countries; many African leaders, like Mukabe, were schooled by Nkrumah. In Guinea Conakry, when the French packed bag and baggage, Nkrumah hurriedly assisted Sekou Toure’s with £10 million package, let calls it “gift”. The African Liberation struggle, perhaps due to its clandestine nature, has not been well documented; it was huge, painful and costly.
(LA Times:” Let us not pretend that Gold Coast, as the country was known before independence, was a flourishing economy. The average Briton was 39 times richer than the colony's average inhabitant. But Gold Coast was seen as one of the most advanced of Britain's African possessions, which was one reason it was the first to be granted independence. Yet the economic consequences of independence gave the lie to the old leftist claim that Britain was exploiting its colonies. Between 1960 and today, the gap between Britain and Ghana has more than doubled, so that the average Briton is now 92 times richer than the average Ghanaian. Today, according to the World Bank, aid accounts for 16% of Ghana's national income and covers fully 73% of government expenditures”).
21st Century Africa
So what went wrong? Any serious analysts of the economic and social conditions will turn to disagree with the issues raised here: how can a slave be richer and at ease than his master? Ghana is only 50 years old, gaining independence off Britain. It would be difficult to eliminate the economic factor or interest in the search for colonies: and also economic factors associated with investments in slave trade lasting nearly four centuries, which led to shipping Africans like logs to build USA and other cities in the American hemisphere, including Brazil.
Your article dealt with issues on “so what went”, without moving into specifics on rehabilitation programs, apart from good governance, which would enable Africa, solve its many problems, to ensure rapid social and economic growth. But a French Weekly magazine, Le Nouvel Observateur” sees a bright light at the end of the tunnel for Africa, applauding rapid development efforts in Ghana and other 30 African countries.
It says, “in Accra one can see visible signs of progress, in terms of development in areas of housing construction and private businesses, springing up like mushrooms, apparently financed by the country’s 3 million immigrant population in overseas, notably in Britain, USA, Germany. Holland”. In a four-page story on Ghana, with footage on emerging housing projects and businesses, written by its special correspondent, visiting Accra, it expressed optimism that 21 century stands to trigger Africa’s economic emancipation, indicating “since beginning of the year 2000, Africa is the continent, next to Asia, which has gained rapid progress, quoting the IMF figures of economic growth rate 5% in 2006, which is expected to rise to 6% en 2007(3-times that of France):
The paper also quoted excerpts of French Economic Professor Philippe Hugon of Paris-X-Nanterre University, author of “l’Economic d’Afrique”. The Professor says those who turned their back on Africa, including USA, Germany Britain, Holland, just after the fall of the Berlin wall, labeling it as a dead continent, or in his words “geo-strategic game play” are returning to the continent to seek their interests, ranging from oil and gas exploration/exploitation, to risks of establishment of al-Qaida cells. He said emerging economies like that of China, India and Brazil are on the run to Africa to seek opportunities being offered with the discovery of large natural resources.
But in Africa there exists today, the enemies within. To quote the words of Nigerian anti-corruption top agent, N. Ribadu, like Nigeria Africa must hurry to put its own house in other. For Africa has since independence, been bathing in a sea of anarchy: stretching from the deep regions of Ogden to the corners of Dakar, from the windy areas of Cairo to the melting areas of Cape of Good Hope, all have not been well in terms of good/effective leadership with vision, functioned democracy with transparency; and sadly, rule of law has been treated with great abject neglect, just like as ass. If Africa is to succeed in its struggle to achieve economic independence, there is the need to respect lines on separation of powers, between the executive, legislature and judiciary: the press, serving as the fourth estate must be made to function; thus establishing the checks and balances to ensuring good governance as explicitly outlined in the LA Times. The law must be enforced to the letter, and none must be above the law.
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