Italy has this week been the focus of all media houses as a meeting of the G8 begun. Supposedly, whenever these nations meet issues ranging from socio- political issues to environmental and economic contentions are expected to be resolved. Many African leaders were there in L’Aquila and they, obviously had come to talk about African issues; but what could it be? What could be Africa’s problems that the G8 need to solve? Africa’s problems are obvious. The major ones are poverty, disease, corruption, war and insecurity. Africa’s problems are generally economic. Most of our leaders always plead for the increase in aid in order to be able balance their budgets. But is aid really the solution for Africa’s problem? No. Africa’s problem is simply accessing the market in the western world and it is important that our leaders convince the West to open their markets for our agricultural produce otherwise the cry of poverty shall never cease to be Africa’ manta. It would be absolute madness to negate the role of foreign aid in the development of Africa. We really need it. But for how long shall we depend on begging? For how long shall an African survive on the mercy of other people? The G8 should by all means find ways of facilitating and empowering Africa with the ability to deal with their own affairs and avoid the aid ‘business’. The strings that are always attached this “aid” always made it hard for our governments to freely implement their programs. Instead it often ends up in the stomachs of the corrupt government officials. So we need “aid with less or no strings attached at all” in order to enable us achieve its intended purpose. President Kagame has always made it clear to and he repeated it this week that Africans need to be consulted when any decisions, that affects them, are made. The G8 need to take these words seriousIt’s not just making policy and decisions that only requires Africa to follow suit. We need to have a say especially on issues that affect our environment. It is good that that they have agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but does Africa need to follow suit in this with our industrialization still in its infancy? I hope that the meeting in Italy will bear sweet fruits for Africans as well as western people. phatari@yahoo.co.uk
