By Awula Serwah.
Contrary to the myth, reinforced by stereotypical images that Africa is a poor continent in need of a Western savior, Africa is a rich continent.
The Ebola crisis should make us wonder why people from a rich continent are suffering the way they are. Sierra Leone for example which produces gold and bauxite is in the top five producers of rutile, a titanium ore, and is in the world’s top ten producers of diamonds.
It is a travesty that a large percentage of the population live in poverty and that Sierra Leone does not have the healthcare system and infrastructure it should have.
Liberia is rich in mineral resources – iron, gold, diamonds, and timber, and is far from poor. Again, private companies appear to be the major beneficiaries of its resources.
The third Ebola-affected African country Guinea is also rich in mineral resources, and has about a quarter of the world’s reserves of bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold deposits, and uranium.
The myth that countries affected by the Ebola outbreak are poor needs to be dispelled. These countries are rich, but a large percentage of the people are impoverished because they are not benefiting from the exploitation of the mineral resources of their countries.
In the short term, initiatives to raise funds for the Ebola outbreak have their place, but if the fundamental problems are not addressed, there will be another major problem after this Ebola outbreak is over.
In the long term, Africa does not need aid or charity – it needs accountable Governments with a vision, a departure from the unfair economic order; fair trade and the responsible exploitation of its resources. Those benefiting from the irresponsible exploitation of resources are happy with the images that show poverty in parts of Africa, and perpetuate the myth that Africa is poor.
If fair minded people woke up to the fact that Africa is a rich continent, and that for this reason there was the scramble for Africa, they would wonder why some of the countries are in the state in which they are.
We are inviting fair minded people to look closely at the social responsibility of companies operating in Ebola-affected countries, and at who is benefiting from the exploitation of resources.
It appears to be private multi-national companies and complicit officials, rather than the general population.
Concerned people should do their bit, however small, to help effect positive change, not just in the Ebola-hit countries, but across the African continent.
Awula Serwah is a community activist, Ghanaian-born barrister and coordinator of London-based Voluntary organization, BTWSC.
