Out of Africa

President Obama has visited Kenya, and attended a conference on “entrepreneurship”, which I take to mean a conference about individual initiative and wealth creation. It seems that the world is gradually realising that Africa has talent, which needs to be encouraged and given chance to flourish in order to make each country prosperous.

During the colonial period Europeans, armed with superior weapons, marched in and took over, telling the locals what to do. In each area, somebody was set up as a governor, with personal transport and a big house. For these people, money seemed to mysteriously arrive from Europe. Small wonder, then, that when these colonies regained their freedom – sorry, became independent – many local leaders set themselves up in the same style, with big palaces and impressive personal transport. And money still arrives from Europe (and the other “Western” countries), in the form of aid money or development funds. However, the technical term for people ensuring that they get a share of their country’s money quietly siphoned into their own bank accounts, wherever they are in the world, is “corruption”.

In most, if not all parts of the world, corruption is a problem. It may be more blatant, widespread or institutionalised in some countries than others.  However, it is now more generally realised, and more openly spoken of, as a barrier to progress. Money quietly siphoned into someone’s bank account is playing no part in the generation of wealth. Ultimately, money is only useful if it is being used – in other words, if it is circulating. And it is most useful when it helps to create jobs. Sitting in a rich person’s bank account, it is doing nothing. In areas like Africa, even if that person then decides to purchase a private plane, or a luxury yacht, that money is going straight back into the Western economy, because such things are only built in the developed countries. This is why Western countries still see giving aid money as beneficial. Even when the money goes to infrastructure projects, the machinery required is often built in Europe or North America, so the money actually helps wealth creation back in the West.

For wealth to reach the general population of the “developing” countries, trustworthiness is required on the part of all citizens, including those in government and those paying taxes. The Bahá’í writings say: “Trustworthiness is the greatest portal leading to the tranquillity and security of the people. In truth, the stability of every affair hath depended and doth depend upon it.” This should be self-evident, really, but it’s worth being reminded! Trustworthiness does not only apply to government, business and other financial affairs, it applies to every aspect of life, including justice.

Let the rest of the world now set an example to Africa by removing its own corruption. This will  encourage the people of the African nations to rid their own countries of corruption and bring Africa to the prosperity its people deserve.