Introduction

I had a deep conversation with W. Gyude Moore, Senior Policy Fellow, at the Center for Global Development and former Minister of Public Works in Liberia. So you know he has first-hand experience in policy analysis and development as well as in geopolitics.

On this episode of ExpertsConnect, I wanted to gain deeper insights into how we can unlock Africa’s economic potential. With that said, I hope you’ll find this interview inspiring!

Economic Prosperity

1. How has Africa’s colonial past affected its economic prosperity?

It largely established a pattern that has been resistant to change. It positioned the continent first as a periphery to the “centre” of colonial powers. The continent was largely extractive — whether it was its people or its natural endowment. And even as the form of that relationship changed, it remained generally exploitative. After independence, multinational companies from former colonial powers continued to dominate the extraction of resources, export it in raw form — thereby supporting jobs and wealth creation elsewhere. The externalities of the extraction was of course borne by African societies. Those patterns persist to this date where we largely export unprocessed raw materials and import finished goods.

2. Now in 2021, what are the reasons for the high economic inequality in Africa?

Largely leadership. Global trade rules continue to privilege others and put us at a disadvantage, but the primary reason for Africa’s poverty is the quality of leadership.

3. What does prosperity look like for Africa and how can we achieve it?

I think that question will differ for most Africans you ask. For me, it is first our ability to feed ourselves. A significant amount of the food we eat on the continent (over 70%) is imported and the paradox is the number that gets repeated so often that about 60% of undeveloped arable land in the world is in Africa. The second is an increase in industrial activity — processing finished goods — adding value. Also, increasing the amount of formal trade occurring between and among African countries — up from around 16 or 17 percent. Finally, we would have improved transport links — and see exchanges between East and West, West and South, North and South. How do we do this? First, the quality of leadership will have to change. I know I keep saying this but it is an indispensable piece. What Africa needs to do is not some arcane, esoteric craft. It is not some technical know-how. It begins with political leadership.

4. What expertise do we need to achieve this prosperity?

Teachers, economists, plumbers — all guided by better political leaders. The continent has not had the leadership it deserves.

5. How can digital technology improve Africa’s prosperity?

It can create opportunities and jobs. It allows us to achieve the same things using way fewer resources. It allows us to trade, at least in services for now, easily across borders.

Chinese-African Engagement

1. Lotus Wang in an August 2020 article, mentioned the following “A large number of Chinese infrastructure funds has greatly improved the infrastructure level of entire Africa and promoted economic development.” What’s your perspective on this statement?

I think it’s largely true. Over the last two decades, Chinese funding for infrastructure has helped build over 6000 kilometers of rail lines and over 6000 kilometers of road. They’ve built ports and large power projects.

2. Can you provide more insight into what sparked China’s motivation to do business in Africa compared to its Western counterparts?

I think it was a combination of China’s needs — as a factory of the world and China’s strength at the moment. Chinese companies could not compete in Asia, Europe or Latin America. The one place they faced no real competition was in Africa. China had also become a net importer of petroleum and with the second Iraq war, the Middle East didn’t seem like the best alternative — Angola thus made sense. China’s entry into the WTO and its high industrialization meant China sought access to minerals at source — Africa was an excellent source.

3. Why do African Leaders embrace business relationships with China?

Well because China offered something the continent needs and did so without strings attached.

4. Why do you advocate that China is a suitable business partner for Africa?

I don’t advocate for any particular country. I advocate for Africa. Whichever partner has the competency to deliver what Africa needs is the partner I support. So if China can build high-quality infrastructure at competitive prices, then China is the right partner on infrastructure.

5. Can you share your insights on the positive and negative implications of China’s involvement in Africa?

The way I see this is like a steak knife. It is a very efficient utensil to cut meat, but can also be used as a weapon. China’s approach of “no strings attached” — especially concerning governance has raised questions about loans. The lack of transparency around the loan terms is also an issue.

6. What’s your perspective on the debt that Africa is amassing from its partnership with China?

Africa also owes private creditors and multilateral development banks, at least the loans from China largely go toward infrastructure.

7. What’s your perspective on how the Chinese-African partnership is impacting the lives of the African population as a whole, locally and also in China?

Chinese loans are financing infrastructure. It’s really hard to overemphasize the need for infrastructure to enhance productivity. And in many instances, the Chinese are financing projects that have been on the bucks for decades after repeated failures to raise money elsewhere. There was a McKinsey report from a couple of years ago that noted that a third of the manufacturing occurring in Africa is being done by Chinese firms. Chinese contractors now routinely hire Africans for projects there since the cost of importing labour from China is high. It’s not a perfect relationship, but it does benefit Africans.

The 6th Diaspora

1. In a previous conversation, you mentioned the diaspora as the sixth region in Africa. Can you expound on how we can benefit from this 6th region?

The African Union recognizes the Diaspora as its 6th region and Diaspora here is pretty expansive. It includes people of African descent everywhere, from the Caribbean to Europe and parts of the Middle East. The goal is to encourage people of African descent everywhere in the world to nurture and strengthen their ties with the continent. The plan is to tap into their talent, expertise, their global networks to build and rebuild the Africa we want.

2. How can the Caribbean benefit from partnerships with Africa?

In the same way that Europeans, Asians, and others benefit. People from the Caribbean can start and own businesses in Africa. They can benefit from stronger cultural ties to their ancestral homeland. Many Caribbean countries will also face a population cliff in the coming decades. Stronger ties with Africa and exchanges with the continent could factor into the solution to that problem.

African Leadership

1. You were previously Liberia’s Minister of Public Works, what were your most important lessons serving in this position?

Infrastructure matters to poverty reduction. It matters to improve social and economic outcomes.

2. How can we improve the quality of leadership in Africa?

Increase the volume of people participating in politics. Young and idealistic people need to run for office, business people need to support better candidates. We need to create a critical mass of the kind of people who would make sacrifices for the state, invest in the greater good, and for now, there are just too few.

Wrap-up

1. What’s your message to our audience?

Africa’s future prospects will not come from the “practice of international development” as we know it. If “development” could develop any country, it would have happened now. First, leadership matters. Even if one tried, there are no viable means of overstating this point. Who is in charge has a huge impact on where we go. Governance matters. As important as good leadership is, that leadership must be surrounded by systems. There is no shortcut to development and we have only ourselves to depend on.

Thanks for Reading!

I hope that you found this article insightful and motivating! It was a huge honor to be able to interview Gyude. Please reach out to Gyude here.

Please watch the full interview here: If you’ve read my previous article, “E-health | Your way to take charge of your health”, you’ll find out that I am also a huge fan of e-health related technologies! I have conducted many more inspiring interviews so check out my channel for more inspiration.

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