Ghana and Mozambique have announced their decisions to pull out of the London Africa Energies Summit in mid-May, protesting discrimination and marginalisation in the hiring, planning and shaping the narrative on Africa’s energy future. Also, the two countries want discussion about Africa’s resources held in Africa and not in foreign capitals.
The pushback represents a growing trend in Africa that demands inner circle inclusion and equitable sharing of its resources. On the other hand, it may be asked: Why are Africans and Africa increasingly excluded even where the subject is about the continent? As usual, there are always external and internal factors. The bitter truth is, it is the internal factors that usually tend to fuel the external factors. It can therefore be said eliminating the internal factors, leads the external to die a natural death.
Africa and Africans are disregarded because, by and large, they disregard themselves. Corruption puts a premium on a person’s value. You cannot expect people who have bought your loyalty to respect your sovereignty. Neither would they respect you and your people, because as a mirror of their collective image, you have already demonstrated your price, and a cheap one at that.
Thus, accountability and transparency are not mere slogans. If Africa continues to sign and seal exploration and mining contracts in secrecy, the continent should forget respect. If Africans continues to reward, respect and praise, as well as glorify the corrupt, then they should forget the rest of the world taking them seriously because they would have sold their dignity.
The withdrawal by Ghana and Mozambique is welcome news. The two countries represent a gathering storm that shall one day see Africa assert its place with greater force in the world all live.
Since the Berlin Conference of 1884/85, a mentality still swirls around in Europe that tends to regard Africa as nothing but endless bush with resources to plunder. The “win-win” jargon is nothing but mere euphemism for total control and disproportional benefit “because they have the capital and know-how.”
Africa’s gold, diamonds, oil and gas shall never dry. The continent still has a lot more “hidden treasures.” However, if Africans won’t muster the heart and courage to ably manage their resources, yes, the “curse of resources” would be inescapable.
That reckless governance shall continue to fan conflicts across the continent even as Africans turn into the world’s laughing stock; wallowing in abject poverty in the midst of plenty.
