A Professor in Political Science and Public Policy at Webster University, Prof. Jean-Germain Gros says government’s plan to grow the economy beyond aid can be achieved if value is added to the nation’s natural resources.
According to him, the country is endowed with resources which government can leverage on. This follows an agenda by President Akuffo Addo’s administration to wean Ghana off foreign aid.
Speaking to at a public lecture themed “Politics and Economics of Neo-Colonialism in Post Independent Africa,” Prof Jean- Germain Gros called on African leaders to adopt continent-wide policies that would help develop the fortunes of the continent without the support of foreign countries and organizations.
“The continent need to develop Africa -centric economies and economic policies which implies the continent would have to abandon certain dogmas such as free trade, comparative advantage and state minimalism. Africa would be ready for building Africa-centric economies which should be reoriented towards improving the lives the people on the continent. One of the most harmful effects of colonialism was on the economies of Africa which was evident in the food production sub-sector of the African Agriculture. African leaders must pay attention to the food sub sector thereby considering a change in agricultural policy in land tenure, farmer access to credits, government subsidies and protection against the importation of grains such as rice”.
He also urged African leaders to ensure that, the resources of the continent would be first used toward value-added production in Africa rather than to supply external producers.
Prof. Kwame Boafo-Arthur, who spoke on politics of neocolonialism in Africa since independence said African leaders have helped in no small measure in depriving the continent of its developmental resources.
He said, African leaders continue to contribute to the perpetration of neo-colonialism mentality on the continent due to their overly dependence on the Europeans thereby allowing them to control the resources of the African continent.
He therefore called on African leaders to wean the continent off foreign aid and other forms of support from the western world which had lead to neo-colonialism.
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By: Philip Nii Lartey/citifmonline.com/Ghana