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For Franksterr:
Here's an interesting perspective from a South African organization that you should find interesting
Here's an interesting perspective from a South African organization that you should find interesting
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Re: Africa's Economies
I do not agree with everything the article says but this quote of Walter Rodney rings true"<span style="font-weight: bold">It’s just as Walter Rodney explained in his book How Europe Underdeveloped Africa nearly four decades ago: “the operation of the imperialist system bears major responsibility for African economic retardation by draining African wealth and by making it impossible to develop more rapidly the resources of the continent. Secondly, one has to deal with those who manipulate the system and those who are either agents or unwitting accomplices of the said system.”</span>
Indeed there is some progress that is hard to define or even quantify, there is the possibility that in the very near future (10yrs) Africa maybe become a creditor nation to China. At the present moment China has no reticence about technology transfer with Africa as Europe or the US has which bodes well in the long term. Already China is outsource to Africa a growing proportion of its manufacturing. -
Re: Africa's Economies
Keep on believing in China and you will be proved a fool.
I suggest you focus on: how can Africans turn China's interest to their benefit?Comment
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Re: Africa's Economies
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Archie68</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Keep on believing in China and you will be proved a fool. </div></div>
It has nothing to do with belief.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I suggest you focus on: how can Africans turn China's interest to their benefit? </div></div>
What else would I ever be focus on???Comment
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Re: Africa's Economies
Here in Ghana there are many Chinese investments in manufacturing, hospitals etc., but they are notorious for treating their Ghanaian workers and the public with disdain. There is a spanking new huge Chinese hospital that opened recently very close to me here. Only a few weeks after its opening it was mobbed by local would-be patients who were outraged by the way they were being treated by the staff there. And I gather that some of their manufacturing places are not much better than slave camps.
And they are also infamous for not only copying the type of patterns that Ghanaians like to see on their cloth, but actually <span style="font-weight: bold">STEALING THE DESIGNS OF LOCAL ARTISANS!!!!!!</span> They have totally wrecked the Ghanaian fabric manufacturing industry with their predatory trade practices.Comment
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Re: Africa's Economies
I`m not surprised. Here in Jamaica, there are a significant amount of non-Jamaican Chinese operating at least 95% of all urban, metropolitan wholesale stores.
When in Jamaica, go in to <span style="text-decoration: underline">any </span>wholesale grocery store whether in downtown Kingston, Spanish Tn, St. Ann`s Bay or elsewhere and see for yourself.
They pay Jamaican workers no more than 5000 or 5500 Jamaican dollars weekly.
These stores open early from 7am, Monday to Saturday and close after 5pm some open up to 8pm especially in relatively peaceful towns like St. Ann`s Bay.
One day, usually Wednesday is open half day, but many go beyond and in to the late afternoon.
Young baby mothers are the majority slaves bonded to this scheme, because there is little or no altrernative to earn an honest days bread and bottle feed.
All this happens in modern Jamaica and has been happening for many years.
There is no social upheaval. No questions are been asked except for an odd squirm here or there.
From this I am convinced that the psyche of the plantation lives on abundantly in life for people in Jamaica today.
The significance of the Black in the national flag is not for the colours of the faces of the people, but it is for hardship. Hardship, there is, we must endure.
We are a condemned people bound to suffer hardship.
Try it if you dare ever come to Jamaica and live the daily struggle that we endure not being a member of an elite middle class.Comment
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Re: Africa's Economies
Q3210, in Ghana foreigners are officially banned from operating retail businesses. But in reality, the Lebanese and the Chinese largely ignore the policy. Every now and then the government starts a loud cacking noise and raids retail establishments on Cow Lane in Accra that are Chinese investments. In all fairness, many of the Lebanese businesses are owned by second-generation Lebanese and so they are legit. Fortunately, because of this law, most retail outlets are Ghanaian-owned. The South Koreans are also investing heavily in the country.
But the real economic problem here right now is the fact that credit is being pushed, including mortgage credit which should be totally unnecessary in Ghana. When credit is too much, the money supply grows too quickly, the Ghanaian Cedi depreciates and inflation goes up, and the only way the Government can intervene is by squeezing its contractors, teachers, policemen, nurses, etc. Somtimes teachers don't get paid for months on end, and the same with firemen, and so on. And so there isn't enough money in the system and business people suffer.
And why is credit being pushed???
Oh.it's probably due to some of the loan conditionalities that accompany European, etc., grants and loans for various projects. When the local currency depreciates, suddenly those 'interest-free' loans become very expensive indeed.
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Re: Africa's Economies
We in Jamaica suffered somewhat a simular fate due to borrowing money at greater expense than we are doing now. The previous political regime borrowed expensively and FINSAC-ed local entepeneurs out of business with extreme rates of interest that fell from hell over night thanks to policies meted out by the former finance minister.
The present one has lowered rates significantly down to one digit coming from previous highs of unbelieveable over 50% up to breaking over 100%.
Suffering is high in Jamaica thanks too to the fuel prices which have the domino effect on other prices.
The people are disoriented and want to re-elect blindly the previous regime back to power come next elections in 2012.Comment
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Re: Africa's Economies
Fuel prices here have escalted enormously too but the government has avoided the worst of it by 'hedging' oil prices about 6 months ago. But I know in my heart of hearts that the average Ghanaian won't understand why fuel prices are so high when Ghana has begun producing oil. It will take some public relations campaign to change that!
There were always so many similarities between the two countries, no wonder the Marleys feel at home here
And I can see that the same still holds true. What is amazing is the dignity with which the 'little'people' go about their daily lives. They somehow seem to take it all in their stride and keep on thanking God for what they have rather than complaining about what they don't.
And the great thing these days is that the President himself is widely known to be a very brilliant, humble and incorruptible man. May Allah richly Bless him and keep him safe from his enemies!
That's the thing I love most about Ghana: you can say "God be praised!" or "Alhamdulillah!" (the Muslim equivalent) and people don't walk away offended but rather say AMEEN!
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Re: Africa's Economies
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MsPeaches</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Here in Ghana there are many Chinese investments in manufacturing, hospitals etc., but they are notorious for treating their Ghanaian workers and the public with disdain. There is a spanking new huge Chinese hospital that opened recently very close to me here. Only a few weeks after its opening it was mobbed by local would-be patients who were outraged by the way they were being treated by the staff there. And I gather that some of their manufacturing places are not much better than slave camps.</div></div>
That is regretable and it is the Government of Ghana's responsiblity to see to it that this state of affairs does not continue.
Is the hospital for the public? Anywhere there is a "mob scene" some people will feel overwhelmed and others slighted.
Chinese treat there own workers cruelly, that is not an excuse for such behaviour, what it does say is that it may not be racially motivated.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">And they are also infamous for not only copying the type of patterns that Ghanaians like to see on their cloth, but actually <span style="font-weight: bold">STEALING THE DESIGNS OF LOCAL ARTISANS!!!!!!</span> They have totally wrecked the Ghanaian fabric manufacturing industry with their predatory trade practices. </div></div>
Again wrong is wrong, but they are known to steal from every race and nation, Italian designers have the same complain.Comment
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Re: Africa's Economies
Good afternoon, franksterr! ( I know it is afternoon at your place now)
Please, I never said or suggested (or even considered!)
that the behaviour of the Chinese inverstors was racially motivated. According to what I have seen in the past on alJazeera TV they don't treat their own workers any differently. I merely stated conditions on the ground here and what is going on.
But thanks for your attention and comments anyway.Comment
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Re: Africa's Economies
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Archie68</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Keep on believing in China and you will be proved a fool.
I suggest you focus on: how can Africans turn China's interest to their benefit? </div></div>
china can not be avoided in this day and time...
what africans need to do first of all to start studying chinese languages...
education in general is very much needed in africa. not just conventional education, but education in every aspect of life...they must be taught to see things from a new perspective---
not from the current perspective of being an inferior underling--
of course this all rests on political situations, but the midset of africa must change from open-house resources for all, to hey we must protect our valuable natural resources;
because at the end of the day, the whole world comes to africa because of natural resources---
they must beat the point home that the continent richest in natural resources can no longer afford to be the poorest in economic wealth---
no longer afford to be the world's whipping post--
the chinese will respect africa/ns when africa/ns begin to respect themselvesComment
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Re: Africa's Economies
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jah_yout</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Archie68</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Keep on believing in China and you will be proved a fool.
I suggest you focus on: how can Africans turn China's interest to their benefit? </div></div>
china can not be avoided in this day and time...
what africans need to do first of all to start studying chinese languages...
education in general is very much needed in africa. not just conventional education, but education in every aspect of life...they must be taught to see things from a new perspective---
not from the current perspective of being an inferior underling--
of course this all rests on political situations, but the midset of africa must change from open-house resources for all, to hey we must protect our valuable natural resources;
because at the end of the day, the whole world comes to africa because of natural resources---
they must beat the point home that the continent richest in natural resources can no longer afford to be the poorest in economic wealth---
no longer afford to be the world's whipping post--
the chinese will respect africa/ns when africa/ns begin to respect themselves </div></div>
j_y,
Good points.
BUT ... without a basic change from capitalism it matters little to poor Africans if the resources are owned, sold and the profits go to a handful of people and little or none trickles down to the average person or the money from those sales is stolen by corrupt leaders like Mobutu , Mugabe and many others?
Why is this fact never brought up by anyone but me and then ignored when I do bring it up ?.Comment
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