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Gambia forum divided over cause of Africa’s retardationPhysical map of Africa (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Such
education should be backed by a bold leadership, leaders who will have to think
big and to think continental, Taal said at the 7th TANGO Policy
Dialogue Series attended by civil society organisations, academia and the
private sector.
The quarterly interactive forum of
the Association of Non-Governmental Organisations in The Gambia (TANGO) focused
on the 50th anniversary of the OAU (now AU) on the theme ‘Whither
Africa, 50 years on …’
The June
25 policy dialogue was intended to discuss “African
solutions to African problems”.
Mr Taal
noted that one of the easiest ways to facilitate the movement of people and
goods within Africa is to build railways linking major commercial centres and
cities across Africa.
However,
the Forum could not reach a common ground on the major cause of Africa’s
underdevelopment. Some blamed colonialism and while others point accusing
fingers to Breton Woods Institutions like IMF and World Bank for Africa’s
economic retardation.
“Colonialism
has done an irreparable damage to the African continent to the extent that
Africans should request for reparation from the colonialists,” argues Sarja
Taal.
Almami
Fanding Taal, Chief Executive Officer of the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, GCCI, said Africa’s under development can quickly be traced to lack
of knowledge.
“Seeking
knowledge is the key to unlocking Africa’s development,” he said. “If Africa’s
growth is to be fast and meaningful, then the continent’s development should be
private sector-led,” he added.
UTG
graduate Fille Suso, blamed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World
Bank (WB) for the “endemic poverty” and the “insignificant economic
development” in Africa.
“The IMF
and the WB come with policies and programmes that are written in well-refined
languages that it looks to Africa leaders and the so-called technocrats that is
an indispensable tool if Africa is to develop,” Fille argued.
Speaking
on behalf of his father, Saiba K. Suso, another senior lecturer at the UTG,
Fille noted that “most of the policies and the economic development model
developed by these institutions work contrary to the economic realities in
Africa”.
These
policies render no benefit to the continent. If the Africa is to develop, the
continent should adopt its own economic model, he suggests.
A VERSION OF THIS ENTRY FIRST APPEARED ON FPI, CLICK HERE
Written by Modou S. Joof
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