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SUNSET
It is no longer very interesting to say Ghana is a shinning star in Africa. Ghana led the way in sub Saharan Africa towards independence. The first president of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was very instrumental in the independence struggle of a number of African countries and was recently honored by the BBC as the African of the Millennium. He is noted for his dream to create the UNITED STATES OF AFRICA.
Its icons like Yaa Asantewa, a grandmother in her 70s in the 19th century, lead the war against the British in one of the fiercest battles the British encountered in their colonization of Africa. Formally known as the Gold Coast, this country is very well endowed naturally as well, with one of its cities’ TEMA, said to be sitting in the exact center of the world. With so many things going for it, it was therefore very alarming when countries we started off with, Malaysia and Singapore, whipped past Ghana in development so fast, it was a wonder the country didn’t spin!
In 2013 however, the country has once again taken a decisive role in the continents’ democratic journey that is worth commending. On the 16th of April 2013, the entire country stood at the precipice of history when it started the judicial process that determines the true winner of the 2012 elections. Desisting from getting into the argument of the right or wrong of what happened, the decision to go to court is one that deserves commendation for all parties of interest in the process.
As an anxious Ghanaian observing the trajectory of our delicate democracy, democracy is froth with many challenges, and remains a very expensive endeavor; as even wealthier nations will concede to. It is however the best option of governance in the world at this point and remains the only system within which any nation may hope to ensure long term sustainability. As the Arab Springs and other developments over time have attested to, the human spirit demands certain inalienable rights.
The 2012 elections in Ghana was a very critical one to all parties contesting and could have easily gone south, as the country teetered on the road forward when it became clear, the results were unacceptable to certain parties.
The decision to go to court, and the maturity shown by all the parties in the follow up to the 16th of April, is a win for all parties. It is a win for the sitting President, Mr. John Mahama, the opposition leader, Mr. Nana Addo, the Court system of Ghana, but most importantly, the Ghanaian people.
As the world watches, and as Ghana once again makes history, let it be written that once again, this bright star in Africa is in flight… and may we land safely. May God, Jah, Jehovah, Allah and the Universe itself bless Ghana!
Follow Juliet Asante on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Juliet Asante
THE SKY IS FALLING…
Is the title of a documentary film I was driven to make; and I will come to the reason for that title pretty shortly. Recently I made a trip to Ghana. I was very excited as I got out of the plane after almost 10 hours (who wouldn’t be!)… The opportunity to finally stretch cramped muscles though, was not the reason for my excitement at all. To an extent, having so much sun, yes. A friend said to me, “bottle up some of that sun and bring it back to Boston”. In many ways, he made an insightful, poignant remark unbeknownst to him that went to the crust of the reality I faced in my six weeks in Ghana!
First, let me take some time to talk about a new product I am launching that really excites me. As I walked out of that plane, and remembered why I loved this country so much all over again; my mind made a seamless synergy between a craft I love, which is film making, and the demographic I am passionate about, young people. I noticed everyone holding a mobile phone and when I say everyone, I mean everyone. I have been working for over two years on a product that rides on the success of mobile phones in Africa and so this was really no surprise to me. What was a surprise to me was my clear underestimation of the magnitude of the success and the elements that drive it. Don’t get me wrong; I love that communication and access to technology is exploding in Ghana and Africa; after all, MobileFlik, my new product that makes movies specifically for the cell phone is based on this success, but here is the paradox…. A paradox that lead me to make a documentary called “the sky falls”
a scene from MobileFliks 
ONE OF THE REASONS WHY EVERYONE IS ON THEIR MOBILE PHONES, ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE, IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO DO!
Africa is the youngest continent. Over 70% of its people are between the ages of 10-35. One Mckinsey report, reports that of every 10 people you meet, 7-8 may be considered young. A country like Kenya has over 73% of its population below the age of 30; and mind you, Africa has hit the 1-billion+ mark. This is a real opportunity for the continent when you consider what having a big market size can mean. Ask Asia anytime or China for that matter; heck, NIGERIA ALONE IS OVER 165 MILLION AND ETHIOPIA AT 83 MILLION. WITH THAT KIND OF MARKET SIZE, WHO NEEDS ANYBODY! And when you talk of Mobile penetration, it is 100%+ in Ghana. Phones in Ghana, exceed 25million, which is the sum of its population. Even counting the fact that some people carry multiple sim cards, a situation China is harnessing by making phones that carry multiple sim cards, Africa overtook Latin America to become the second largest mobile market after Asia.
This is for all the people looking for somewhere and something to invest in, I suppose; IF YOU ARE A SMART INVESTOR, GET YOUR BUTT ONTO A PLANE AND INTO AFRICA AND PROBABLY INTO COMMUNICATION AND MOBILE PHONES NOW! Voice calls revenue is maxing out fast though; except in Ethiopia off course, where overall penetration is less than 30% and for a country that size, when the government decides to deregulate the industry – let your imagination say amen to that! As a good friend puts it, “Data is the next oil.”
Seven out of the 10 fastest growing economies in the world can be found in Africa and I am proud to say that Ghana is amongst them! In 2011, the IMF actually predicted that Ghana was set to be the fastest growing economy in the world!. At average growth rates of 7%, the growing economies in Africa are unsurpassed and this trend is likely to continue for a relatively long time. Having a discussion around what this means for the rest of the world and who is beating a path to Africa’s doors, including China (I was amused by the many Chinese people I met at the airports, getting off the planes, holding plastic bags. This must really be a trip to the market for China!), is a subject of another article.
SO, LETS COME TO WHY I WORRY. IN THE CASE OF GHANA (AND MIND YOU, THE DATA IS REFLECTED ALMOST IN SYNCHRONY ACROSS THE CONTINENT), WHERE OVER 70% OF THE POPULATION IS YOUNG. ACCORDING TO SOME WORLD BANK DATA, 65% OF THE YOUTH IN GHANA IS UNEMPLOYED.
This data is staggering, especially when you map it against how many young people there are. On my journey to find out the true picture, I met “Sos.” Sos has two masters degree and hasn’t had a real job since graduating almost five years ago. Sos is thinking of going back to school to get a third masters. As he puts it, “it beats staying at home doing nothing!” I don’t consider his case dire though… Why? Because, Sos has a wife who has a full time job and works to support the entire family, including her mother who lives with them and their three children.
Two people I spoke to, ‘Franklin’ of Imani, Ghana and ‘George’ of Ghana Skills and dev. Fund, both described the situation as a ‘ticking time bomb!’
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE ON THE CONTINENT, WITH SO MUCH ENERGY, IMAGINATION, AND DRIVE, WITH NOTHING TO DO?
The reasons for this situation are many. MANY BLAME THE SCHOOLS FOR NOT MARRYING EDUCATION TO EMPLOYMENT; not giving technical skills, nor the critical thinking and emotional intelligence needed to survive in the market place or perhaps to start new businesses? After all, every successful economy relies on small businesses, which in turn feeds on the entrepreneurial spirit of its people. What happens then when ‘young people are not, conditioned and thought to think strategically?’ is the question aptly put to me by one of my interviewees who is in her early 20s….
The conversation is broad, but for me, it is simple… WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WITHOUT JOBS AND WITH NOTHING TO DO? Many of them are on their mobile phones for now, chatting about nothing and spending obscene amounts of time they probably cannot afford, monetarily or socially, on social networks and Whatsapp…
BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY GET BORED AND PUT DOWN THEIR MOBILE PHONES. WHAT WILL THEY TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO? MY HEART IS POUNDING… PERHAPS I AM CHICKEN LITTLE SCREAMING THE “SKY IS FALLING!”
” I DON’T HAVE A SINGLE MALE AFRICAN AMERICAN FRIEND,” DESPITE BEING MARRIED TO AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN!
Dennis explores the not so brotherly relationship Africans have with their African-American brothers and being unimpressed with Africa’s development! He admits, ” I love the luxury of the West, but I’d like to kiss the ground of my country whenever I go home… this region of wasted opportunities!”
TALES FROM AFRICANS continues, as I meet and talk with fascinating Africans around the world…
DENNIS MATANDA IN THE IMMEDIATE PAST
Deep question… I turned 37. Two words: Spread-Thin. Extremely over-committed! I am a website designer, project manager, a policy analyst and editor. My wife usually expects to see my side of the bed dip at 4:00 a.m.
Rachel came up with Enrique, our imaginary gardener. He is very attractive and keeps her company. This private joke of ours, isn’t always funny. She insist I have to step up and pay better attention to my health, which didn’t get such a great bill from the doctor on my last visit. I’m busy, anxious, stressed, restless, and especially homesick. My body knows it’s been abroad 5 years too long.
Two very important things keep me in the US: My wife who is not ready to visit or consider moving to Africa; and of course, the three years it’s going to take to finish my doctorate.
FAMILY PORTRAIT
I am part of a large family. In the U.S, I stay close to my wife’s family. My blood siblings are scattered between the US, the UK and eastern Africa. My father and I don’t communicate much on account of his being a troglodyte when it comes to mobile technology. My mother, on the other hand, Skype’s; loves Whitney Houston and CNN. I know she is OK because she lives close to her family.
WHAT MOST OCCUPIES YOUR THOUGHTS
I’m consumed with going back to Uganda and doing something about the country’s hospitals. I’d like to find companies who would donate old dialysis machines I could take to Uganda. I’m searching for cold storage facilities to build temporary mortuaries for the main referral hospitals while they construct more permanent solutions. When I am not poring over a policy document or design piece, I have the same fantasy where I win the lottery and dedicate 5 million dollars to ensure that women do not die while giving birth. That women and their children die during childbirth annoys me to high heavens! I will never forget the man walking ahead of his woman with a bag in his hands. The woman looked exhausted and the man had a taut face. They had just lost their child and had to take the body home for burial!
The sheer indignity of putting a child – even a dead one – in a traveling bag is simply unacceptable. It is indicative of so many things that I want to fix. Children should not die in hospitals. Mothers should not bleed to death and fathers should not have to bury their children.
I’m passionate about other things: A comprehensive US – Africa trade and investment policy I am helping craft. I’m also excited about moving from the condo to a full house with a basement.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE GROWING UP IN UGANDA
My earliest memory is, slowly falling down the stairs of the house after crawling to the edge. My older sister Doreen, tells the story that I did not squeal out in pain, but let out a slow bawl – nonchalant enough to worry my mother. The next memory is being about 3 years old and looking down at my shoulder and seeing pink. I still have the huge scars that tell the story of how bad my second degree burns were. Then there was a time when we walked for a long time and moved in with our grandparents. This was during the 1979 war for Uganda’s liberation; the same war that claimed my cousin’s father and gave us the opportunity to eat posho – mashed corn meal – with smuggled sugar.
There were good times too. Truth be told, we didn’t even realize there was nothing else for us to eat. For the whole lot of us cousins, brothers and sisters, it was a fun adventure to leave the city and live with country kids who treated us like little gods. At 16, I was Uganda’s Individual Medley record holder – a record I held till my till my last year at university in 1997.
LIVING OUTSIDE AFRICA
Agony. Before I moved to the US, I traveled the world for work. While I loved the glamor of the hotel rooms of Dubai and the glittering lights of Budapest, I could not wait to go home. I had seen Uganda’s former President, Milton Obote kiss the ground when he first stepped off the plane after almost 10 years in exile. That’s what I wanted to do each time I got off the plane in Entebbe…
On the other hand, there were a few things I couldn’t stand; the potholes and the traffic jams. I could not believe that people were never outraged when treated like cows at the British Embassy as they waited in line to receive visas. I longed to experience what the “West” offered.
Today, things are much different. If my wife weren’t so sensitive about things, I’d talk about how much I preferred to dwell amongst the potholes than be in the order of the West. Yes … I like that we buy our chicken in packages and do not see the blood and feathers; but still… here, I live in a neighborhood where Rachel and I are the minority. There are days when I do not see a single other person of color. Deny it as I try, this gets to me. I catch myself staring at each and every black person I see in New York. I do not want to feel racist or against other people – but the fact is, I receive such intense pleasure from seeing another black person that I am almost embarrassed and ashamed – and yet somewhat deliriously happy at the same time.
UGANDA AND THE SUB REGION
I am more frustrated at the wasted opportunities than anything else. I stridently disagree with anyone who says Africa has problems! If the Sahara desert is not a problem, why should Uganda claim to have problems?
MANAGING A COUNTRY’S AFFAIRS, PEOPLE AND ECONOMY IS ONLY A PROBLEM IF AND WHEN YOU HAVE EITHER INCOMPETENT PEOPLE MANAGING IT OR A LEADER WHO JUST DOES NOT SEEM TO UNDERSTAND THE ESSENCE OF INSTITUTIONS.
I know, for a fact, that some Ministries are staffed by some of Uganda’s finest bureaucrats and technocrats. But why isn’t the economy quite as stellar? Why has the National Planning Authority not had an official sanctioning of the economy all these years? WHY DOES ANTI GAY LEGISLATION TAKE PRIORITY OVER EDUCATION SYSTEMS AND HEALTHCARE PLANS? Why are there potholes in the roads and why are the roads to Kampala’s industrial area impassable? WHY DOES THE PRESIDENT’S OFFICE RECEIVE A BIGGER BUDGET THAN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE? Why do children die in hospitals? Why do more children drop out of school than get retained? Surely, these are NOT inherent to Africa. Besides, nothing and no one is as powerful as an African leader. In 1997 and in 2004, Uganda’s president single-handedly sanctioned that there would be universal primary education in the former and universal secondary education in the latter.
This is why I call Uganda and the region one of ‘wasted opportunities.’ But closely associated with this is the fact that we deserve the leaders we get if peasants – people who have never held down a proper job or understand institutions and infrastructure – continue to take the reins of African economies. This is what differentiates Ghana from Uganda.
Perhaps the best way to explain Africa’s leadership problems is to illustrate them from the law of diminishing marginal returns. Basically, the productivity of a presidency declines as more is used to achieve political ends – ceteris paribus. Thus, if we want development in Africa, we should advocate for a new leader every 5 years. Extreme as this may sound, the progress a leader makes in the first 2 and half years of their leadership is enough momentum to run through the last 2 of his reign – even if they subsequently mess things up. The next leader’s momentum will pick things up. This is the secret to Zambia’s success; to Ghana’s recent favor with the rest of the world, and is at the heart of the US’ vibrant political system. Change is good – and NO CHANGE is Africa’s biggest problem.
UGANDA’S UNIQUE PLACE AND STRENGTH
There are two major roles Uganda could play for Africa:
First, a peninsula in an area called Entebbe uniquely gifts Uganda and creates the potential for the country to become a special economic zone [SEZ] in the model of Dubai. Entebbe is also home of the national airport, which is also surrounded by Lake Victoria, which connects all three East African countries. Ferries with wagons of produce, commodities and goods can get into Uganda through Kenya’s Busia and Tanzania’s Mwanza after making the railway journey from both Mombasa and Dare salaam. Basically, if the facilities at Entebbe were turned into a world class duty free export zone, businessmen from Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and even as far as Liberia and Sierra Leone would not have to go to Dubai or to Japan to bring their equipment or cars. There is enough land in that part of the country to hold goods for the whole of Africa. My estimation is that a $ 2.5 billion investment will build an internal clearing port, excellent clearing and forwarding services, additional terminals for airplanes – and Uganda would help the rest of the region to grow.
The second and even more important role Uganda can play is to advocate for a road network between Congo Brazzaville and Mombasa. This road would effectively cut across Africa, connect the Atlantic with the Pacific and products from the US and South America won’t have to go round the Cape of Good Hope to get to most of central Africa. This road will open up Africa and especially the Congo in ways that airports, mining contracts and donor aid can never do. Uganda can facilitate this – but here again…
WHAT DO YOU BRING TO THE TABLE
Apart from my world-class education and vast experience in a whole range of practical industry, the most invaluable thing about me is that I am part of a group of Ugandans who were institutionalized. We understand what it means to do our jobs or suffer the consequences being the weak link. We have suffered through bad roads and the smell of a malfunctioning medical system. Thus, we have a decency standard we fight for. If I were President, while I also appreciate that absolute power can corrupt, I’d at least ensure that the roads did not have potholes, that hospital functioned, and the law of the land was respected. These three things would have far reaching benefits for our people, more than any 100 million cash infusion would.
As a result of my life abroad, I am actually a professional cultural broker – one able to speak the language of foreigners and also able to intercede on behalf of my people. Uganda loses out on investment because of small things like language barriers, late coming, delays in getting documents ready or even worse, spelling errors. WHY WOULD I WANT TO DO BUSINESS WITH A LEADER WHO WEARS A $ 30,000 WATCH, BUT I’D HAVE TO DRIVE THROUGH A SLUM TO MEET?
MARRIED TO AN AFRICAN AMERICAN
I am always amazed that someone who looks like me and shares my skin color does not know anything about my culture or about my continent. This is my biggest challenge: Each time I broach the subject of visiting home, all I get is a deluge of trepidation – about the mosquitoes, the ‘red dust,’ the potholes and the chance that someone is going to kill you to take your car. She’s bought into the American meme that Africa is the land of children with flies all over them. This image is so powerful that my wife goes apoplectic if she finds that I have ashy feet!
THE AFRICAN – AFRICAN AMERICAN DYNAMIC
The best way to illustrate the reality is on two levels: I DO NOT HAVE A SINGLE MALE AFRICAN AMERICAN FRIEND. All the black men I’m friendly with are either immigrants from Africa, or from one of the islands. If I want to see a real African American, I have to go to parts of Philadelphia and Baltimore where I am sure they will consider me weird. I speak proper and funny, they will say. Trying to appear like I am better than them.
But on the other hand, African Americans are simply a huge blight on America’s consciousness. THE WHITE MAJORITY DOESN’T KNOW WHAT DO WITH THE BLACK POPULATION AND SO THEY IMPRISON THEM, LEAVE THEM UNEMPLOYED AND FEAR THEM – projecting them on television as the worst of society. If Barack Obama’s election is to do anything, it will allow blacks to emerge as more acceptable in society. There are now more black people appearing in print, display and television adverts than before. The number of intermarriages between black and other skin colors is going to continue to grow – and this is what might rescue the African America population. Until more whites have a positive experience with blacks and until more blacks leave their comfort zones – whether it is working in the inner city or never leaving their ‘homes’ the American dream will continue to elude them.
2011 – 2012 HAS BEEN LAND MARK YEARS FOR DEMOCRACY OR THE LACK THEREOF IN AFRICA-
I don’t think I’d use the word ‘landmark.’ Yes – Egypt went down and Libya became different. Southern Sudan became a country and Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast plus Ghana and Malawi had peaceful transitions. We even had a second female president. But on the whole, Nigeria still had major political issues that are frustratingly easy to solve. Rwanda seemed to be the shining star that was caught with its pants down in Congo. South Africa is bursting at the seams; I am basically saying that I am not impressed yet…
THE PLACE OF AFRICA IN WORLD DYNAMIC
You have to, unfortunately, look at Africa as the next superpower battleground. China and the US are going to compete for Africa. Fortunately, Africa will benefit from the balance of China’s infrastructural development and the US’ caution with being viewed as exploitative or in the mold of a colonial master. The ideology will be capitalism and because the US has been moral leader for a long time – and with Barack Obama as US President for the next four years – the US will win ‘the war for hearts and minds in Africa.’
On the other hand, while many will benefit, many will, undoubtedly lose out. Until Africa is able to negotiate as one trading block or common market, and until divide and conquer is no more on the continent, the current fast growing nations like Ethiopia, Malawi and Botswana will eventually slow down and be replaced by others. Ultimately, economic disparity will continue and progress will happen towards the richer country just like is happening between Uganda and Kenya.
“BRAIN DRAIN”
Guilty as charged. I am getting too soft and enjoying these luxuries instead of going home and really developing my people. Two of my good friends – both medical doctors with MPH degrees, work in nursing homes. They could be in Uganda right now – saving another life. If the country does not make things as palatable for people like this, it is responsible for its own bad fate.
THE WORLD IN 2020
1. North Korea will have been open for business and China will flood this country with its influence
2. The Commonwealth Community will dissipate as Britain’s influence dwindles
3. China will surpass the US as the world’s largest economy but continue to crumble from corruption
4. The Republicans will, once again, fail to take the White House – for the 4th time in a row
100million Africans live out of Africa… What keeps the pulse beating? Surviving the cold, different languages, cultures, food; sometimes hostilities… in the next months, I talk to some intriguing Africans to watch out for… Starting with Sangu Delle. Sangu brings the North and South of Africa together in a unique way…
THE ONE THING YOU BRING TO THE TABLE?
Passion
TELL US ABOUT YOU…
My father is a doctor and human rights activist from a poor village in the Upper West Region of Ghana, one of 86 children. My mother is a beautiful Egyptian woman who grew up in a strict Muslim household and brewed a firestorm when she married the Christian doctor. My early childhood religious education comprised Psalms and Suras. My father founded the African Commission of Health and Human Rights in the late ‘80s, and I grew up with civil war refugees from Sierra Leone and Liberia. I vividly remember torture victims that we hosted in our house, like Throble Suah, who had been beaten mercilessly for writing against Charles Taylor. I remember an older woman who shared how she was viciously raped by a rebel young enough to be her grandson. Our home served as a refuge for many survivors of violence. Even one as young as I was then could not but be moved by their courage in the face of such tragedy. These experiences scarred me as a young boy, but through them I found motivation to be an advocate for human rights and development.
I have been interested in interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and eliminating poverty since my undergraduate experience. At Harvard, I was the first student to enroll in the Social Engagement Initiative, a unique program pioneered by Dr. Evelyn Higginbotham (Chair of the Department of African and African American Studies) that combines theory with practical applications. I spent five years developing a water and sanitation development project in a Ghanaian community called “Agyementi,” working with a team of professors from Economics, Anthropology, Public Health and Engineering. This project taught me much about the interlocking factors of poverty, technological costs, governance, culture, and global redistributive justice.
With my room-mate, Darryl Finkton, we founded the African Development Initiative, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to investing in improving the education, health and economies of under-resourced communities. We are involved in projects in Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, St. Lucia, etc.
While my experience at Harvard enriched my academic and social life, I always believed that the ultimate purpose of my education was to help others. In 2007, during a community meeting in Agyementi where I was conducting a needs-based assessment, I asked one of the villagers, “What is the single greatest thing I can do for your community?” Expecting him to say “build a hospital” or “build a school,” I was stunned by his response. “Jobs,” he said. “We want jobs.”
This statement inspired a shift in my philosophy on how best to aid communities in need, marking a departure from “band aid” charity work to more sustainable solutions. Coupled with my full embrace of the American entrepreneurial spirit, I founded Golden Palm Investments (GPI) with capital that I raised from friends and supporters at Harvard. GPI invests in start-ups with a focus on companies that have social impact and generate jobs. We have seeded companies in healthcare, agriculture, real estate, financial services and technology, and have created over 200 job opportunities in our four years of operation.
WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT FROM YOU IN 5 YEARS?
Depends who you ask… My grandmother will tell you she wants great-grandchildren, lol. I am grateful to God for all His blessings, and hope that in 5 years I can have an even bigger impact on under-resourced communities and contribute to a better world.
WHY SAN FRANCISCO AND NOT GHANA?
In our globalized technologically advanced world of today, geographical boundaries have been blurred; I do not have to be stationed in Ghana to have an impact there. My experiences with ADI and GPI attest to this. We are in the Afropolitan age…
YOUR BIG ISSUES?
Education. Health. Economic Development. Human Rights.
YOUR BIGGEST FRUSTRATION WITH AFRICA
The failure of leadership…
WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES…
I genuinely believe that Africa presents some of the most compelling risk-adjusted returns anywhere in the world. For the decade ending December 31, 2009, an African composite index made up of eight countries—including South Africa, Nigeria, and Egypt—returned about 14 percent annualized. South Africa alone returned an average of 13 percent per year over that period. Compare that with the MSCI Global Index, which returned about 7 percent annualized, or the S&P 500, which lost about 3 percent over the same time period. GDP average annual growth over the past 10 years in Sub Saharan Africa is ~7% versus ~4% in the rest of the world. A vast majority of the 10 fastest growing economies these past few years are in Sub-Saharan Africa!
Africa is also urbanizing rapidly. In 1980, just 28% of Africans lived in cities; today 40% do, which is a proportion larger than India. Africa also has as many cities with population of 1 million or more as in Europe. That trend is accelerating as labor migrates to economic opportunity. Africa is also outperforming the United States and Western Europe in labor productivity gains.
Africa is ripe for business and investment. Telecom is a theme that transcends all the African nations I have visited and has unleashed derivative businesses such as tower construction, operation and maintenance, mobile-based technology platforms, commercial real estate among others. There is still so much more room to grow as only 65% of Africans use mobile phones vs. ~100% in the developed world. The continent still has huge risks and one has to be very careful and approach it with a long-term perspective, a stomach for volatility, and with the right local partners. For the forward-thinking investor, the returns can be mind-boggling. Case in point: one of the local investors I met in Addis invested in a Pan-African bank in the 1990s at a $38 million market cap. In a little over a decade the bank has grown to a market cap of over $3 billion – that’s almost 80 times return on capital!
The beauty about investing in Africa is that you aren’t only making a great return on your investment, but you are also contributing to the development of the continent. You are providing growth capital that will allow companies to grow, creating more jobs, and helping lift millions of people out of poverty.
THE OPPORTUNITIES AND DIFFICULTIES THE U.S. HAS GIVEN YOU …
I was a very ambitious child growing up. Unfortunately, that ambition sometimes clashed with the structural and cultural limits of the system in Ghana. Some of my teachers lashed out at me for perceived intransigence. In elementary school, I got in trouble for using a “made up” word “serendipity”; when I protested, I was whipped. In middle school, my independent research on HIV/AIDS got me scolded for “learning material outside the curriculum.” The teacher told me “you’re too forward.” It was some of these academic limitations that pushed me ultimately to leave Ghana.
Since I was four years old, I knew exactly where I could pursue intellectual freedom: America. At that age, I had read the biography of Andrew Jackson and was inspired by his rise to the presidency from humble beginnings. In 9th grade, I discovered that some schools in America offered scholarships to international students and I applied to a dozen. I was fortunate to be awarded a full scholarship to Peddie School in New Jersey. I created and sold exam study guides and raised the fare for my one-way ticket to the States.
I initially worried that I would be judged for my African heritage, but I learned that U.S. isn’t about how you speak, or what clothes you wear. The folks I met at Peddie taught me that America is about celebrating your authentic individuality, following your dreams and realizing your potential.
My teachers pushed me to turn the question of -why some African post-colonial societies embraced democracy and others did not- into a summer research experience. When I was concerned about women and children living with HIV/AIDS in Africa, my American friends and I joined hands to host fundraisers and create a “Youth Against AIDS” Club. The school also supported me in establishing a Model United Nations program on campus that helped develop globally minded students.
As an undergraduate at Harvard, I made the transition from activist to social entrepreneur. In the fall of 2006, I sat on the steps of my freshman dorm with a best friend, Darryl Finkton, discussing our upbringing. I had witnessed poverty, human rights violations and underdevelopment in West Africa; he had experienced his fair share of gun violence, drug abuse, and absentee fathers as a child in inner city Indianapolis. We both knew we were fortunate to be at Harvard, and felt a moral obligation to help others.
My biggest shock was to discover that there are millions here in the US, for whom the “American Dream” is not a practical reality.
When I became president of the Harvard Black Men’s Forum (BMF) in 2008, I prioritized education and the achievement gap in our community service initiatives. In San Francisco, I am working with the BizWorld Foundation, which teaches entrepreneurship and business skills to elementary school students in the Bay area. I also volunteered on the Obama campaign in both elections.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOU BIGGEST LESSONS AND WHO ARE YOUR MENTORS
1. Trust in God
2. There is no substitute for hard work
3. The power of dreams
“Dreams are the X on the map, and hard work is the fuel to get there”
Role Models: My mother (Amira Delle), Kwame Nkrumah, John F. Kennedy, Nelson Mandela
Mentors
Harvard: Henry Louis Gates Jr., Evelyn Higginbotham, Emmanuel Akyeampong, Timothy McCarthy
Professional: Raymond McGuire (Citigroup), Henry McGee (HBO), Carla Harris (Morgan Stanley), Alan Waxman (TPG), Tope Lawani (Helios), Jude Bucknor (Kingdom Holdings)
OPPORTUNITIES TO WATCH IN AFRICA…
Healthcare. Agriculture. Real Estate. Consumer/ Retail. Technology. Financial Services. Infrastructure. Start a small business!!!
COUNTRIES THAT HOLD THE KEY?
Ghana is a model for democracy across Africa. The seamless transition of power after the untimely death of the President was a powerful validation of the resilience of the democratic institutions in Ghana. With her elections in less than a month, we need her to continue to be a beacon for the continent and to show to the world that we can have free, fair and peaceful elections.
But Nigeria: Most populous country in Africa, seventh most populous in the world, and most populous country in which majority of the population is black. In 1950, Nigeria had a population of about 50 million. Today, over 160 million people live in Nigeria, and the UN forecasts that number to grow to over 730 million by 2100.
Nigeria is one of Africa’s economic giants. Selected by Goldman Sachs in 2005 as one of the “Next Eleven,” with a current GDP of over $415 billion (37th in the world). Nigeria is forecasted to overtake South Africa as the largest economy in Africa, according to research from Citigroup, which says that Nigeria will attain the highest average GDP growth in the world between 2010-2050.
Nigeria is richly endowed with an abundant supply of natural resources; well developed financial, legal, transport and telecommunications sectors; and a stock exchange that is the second largest in Africa. Nigeria is the United States’ largest trading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa and supplies a fifth of its oil. One of the most striking sectors in Nigeria is telecommunications; major emerging market operators base their largest and most profitable centers in the country. MTN generates over 50% of its earnings from Nigeria, where it enjoys industry-high EBITDA margins of 65%+.
Africa NEEDS Nigeria to succeed!!!!
It is estimated that Africa is the youngest continent; pro-porting to have 70% of its population considered young.
We’ve had the AIDS epidemic, unsustainable debts, economic crises, political conflicts and social demise, which left Africa with an eclipse of hope, a crisis of leadership and a spiritual juncture of decline. The initiatives by the World Bank and the IMF have been bold and ambitious in their goals to aid in the development of the struggling African nations, yet misguided at the same time in their pursuit of Western-prescribed solutions to non-Western problems. It is alarming that the majority of agenda for development over the past several decades have marginalized the important role of the youth.
I’m taking this opportunity to call on the youth of Africa to unite and build an Africa we will be proud to hand over to our children and grandchildren. Applying the timeless words of JFK; ask not what Africa can do for you, but what you can do for her! For those voting this year, use your thumb wisely, and put Country First over partisan politics.
SPEAK TO ONE LEADER…
I’d like to speak to President Obama about his foreign policy with regards to Africa. I believe America needs to be a strong partner with Africa in its new era of development. A true partnership that will be mutually beneficial; Africa’s new emerging middle class and recent strong economic growth presents huge opportunities for American businesses.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/juliet-asante/braving-the-odds-tales-fr_b_2161955.html
I see it… that mountain!
Generally I’m very interested in the political process. I remember being invited to sit in on the “Situation Room” with Wolf Blitzer at CNN’s New York studio and keenly following the conversation in the 2008 elections. My predictions at the time, both in the U.S. and in my home country of Ghana, were generally spot-on. I was also very intrigued by the commonalities I noticed with the two elections.
And so we are here again and it is 2012. Everything is still very much the same, to the extent that I often experience déjà vu. Sometimes I feel like I must be mistakenly pressing the rewind button. And yet, everything is so different; enough so, to make me pay attention, especially when one considers what is at stake — in both countries.
And so let’s focus for a minute on the debates. Debates exemplify the sport of democracy to the extent that even when lives are at stake, the loser is willing to back down honorably, which is one of the elements that make democracy a form of governance so favored. Debates require strategy and the ability to communicate them effectively. As Nitin Nohria, the current dean of the Harvard Business School said, “Communication is the real work of leadership.”
Having good policies is good, but communicating these policies effectively in a manner that is understood and accepted by especially those in the middle is what it comes down to. On the surface, this may sound unfair, but… let’s digress further into the power of declaration and articulation. This is a necessary practice in our spiritual, our personal and social spheres. Many great teachings talk about pronouncing to oneself an intended reality, and the importance of mental affirmation. To the extent that we may be held up to our pronouncements and held to greater scrutiny, may be an important part of the exercise. Thus, the conversation around Romney’s alleged isolation from the middle class, and his clear attempt to address this by seeking to identify with the stories of the ordinary “Joe.” As President Obama also glaringly faced, strong belief in the effectiveness of your proposed policies should be communicated effectively time and time again.
Of course, developing democracies cannot begin to compare to the United States, not by a long shot — and those who seek to do so display a misunderstanding of the dynamics of democracy and how it relates to the culture of a people and the exercise of re-orientating the mind. The United States has “perfected” the steps over centuries.
There are a number of things, though, that every democracy could seek to emulate no matter how young and culturally different. I’d pick accountability, expertise and the caliber and vision of the people that run for office. These elements, in my view, are the building blocks of democracy.
In most traditional leadership systems in Africa, there is a supreme leader; in the case of Ghana, for instance, there is the chief. The supreme leader recognizes the gift of leadership bestowed on him as a leader and in turn, seeks to deliver fair and progressive leadership. Here, I use the word “leader” with discretion, as there are authorities like Ronald Heifetz and Dean Williams that may dispute the application of the term. Permit my use advisedly thus. The chief’s term of office is usually for life, failing any serious mishap. Much as is the case in Britain, with the monarchy. The form of governance therefore, where the society is able to question the leadership openly and vote them in and out of office, is a learned one.
Africa is one of the most natural-resource-rich continents, not counting natural resources. According to the <em>Journal of Blacks in Higher Education</em>, No. 26 (Winter, 1999-2000):
<blockquote>African immigrants in the United States are the most highly educated demographic. Some 48.9 percent of all African immigrants hold a college diploma. This is more than double the rate of native-born white Americans, and nearly four times the rate of native-born African Americans.</blockquote>
Most Africans migrate to escape the challenging economic and political conditions in their home country. The favorite past time of this demographic is to visit Internet news websites and various discussion forums that link them to developments in their countries; remaining frustrated and agitated!
For the educated African back home, it isn’t much different. Most of them don’t actively get involved in the political discussion, and argue that whatever you do, leave politics alone and leave it to the crooks. Thus, countless smart and highly educated individuals who could perchance make a difference, stay out of politics and leadership roles because it is a dirty arena. These are men and women who “know all the answers” and can give you a lesson in best governance. They are experts in global and local politics and economics and they understand what must be put in place to ensure sustainable development. This is all good, but let’s just say they could learn a thing or two about tenacity from the “bad guys”!
The questions around where one can effect the most change, and whether one must compromise one’s values to some extent for the higher purpose? Does the end justify the means or does it excuse it?
You must admire the “corrupt” politician for one thing; at least s/he is in the political boxing ring fighting. Unless you are actually in that ring, you have no idea what the fight is about. Who are the people exercising real leadership in the system and making a difference quietly? What are the various factions and interests in the system and what is driving them to fight to either maintain the statues quo or change it? Why are things the way they are? What are the global triggers and determiners? Who are the puppet masters and what are the trade-offs? What strengths are being leveraged and which ones are being underutilized? et cetera, et cetera…
Guess what, if you are a good business man and you refuse to enter into politics, people who don’t know the first thing about business strategy will determine what environments affect your business. If you are a master in strategic management and you leave yourself out, people who haven’t managed anything in their lives before, including themselves, will manage you. If you are the best negotiator, but are not at the table when the country negotiates with strategic foreign partners, you can’t blame anyone when you end up with the short end of the stick. The world has changed significantly and yet, individuals who probably don’t have a Facebook account themselves or understand the ecosystem and where the rest of the world is going may be determining your future. By the way, it doesn’t really matter if you do or do not have a Facebook account. What matters, is that you understand that it exist, the tool it can be, and the role it is playing.
The words of Plato, “The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men,” may hold some truth to the extent that being prepared for the job and serving the public to the best of your ability is good and otherwise, not so… What is our responsibility to public service? To at least grapple with this question, may be a start.
