Principal Voices is intended to be a global debate everyone can participate in, and we are keen to hear your views on the subjects being discussed. These comments will form a central part of the Principal Voices Web site.

How can Africa be helped?

Name
E-mail address
Your location
Comment
	Comment Policy All fields are required

We Africans have the keys to our socio-economic and political development. Our (African) leaders must envision desired states for their individual countries and for the continent as a whole. When we envision these desired states as our goals, we must plan and begin to work towards achieving them step by step. I do not care how long it takes but if we can all imagine how we want Africa to be, no matter how remote it seems now, we would get there... that is what we need.

The solutions to the numerous African problems lie in Africa. African leaders must wake up from their slumber and utilize the gains from globalization.

African states need leaders devoid of corrupt tendencies. Nothing worthwhile can be achieved without sound knowledge and perception.

Africa needs basic economic and leadership transformation. Our current leaders lack the economic vision to transform the continent. We need a micro-credit scheme that is self-sustaining and directed to the communities and not NGOs or government departments.

Africa also needs a political awareness for the populace to understand that a corrupt politician who buys his way into power will most likely plunder the treasury and introduce gigantic projects that creates more room for embezzlement.

I continuously see how well it is going in South Africa, but no reports are made of the many people killed every month in the country, and steadily rising. With the World Cup coming up, and funding being diverted from healthcare and hospitals to stadium building, I think this could make and excellent topic to report on.

Africa needs highly its long awaited independence. No matter what amount of aid you send, some people do not have the basic right to democratically elect their president.

Having been born in Africa, all I can say is corruption, corruption, corruption.

Money is being donated to government, but not distributed down accordingly. The funding seems to be used for salaries and wages, consulting and more consulting. There are no deliverables. The countries are getting poorer by the minute and all the rest of the world can do is consult and opioniate.

Why bother donating? Is it worth it? The government gets richer and more corrupt and the people are suffering because of it.

Do not donate to government -- donate to communities.

What should be done about the situation that we face in Africa can simply be summarized under two headings: increased economic development and governance. Toward this end we should aim to have leaders in our midst who can take the mantle from the politicians we have at present.

Africa needs selfless leadership, and the developed countries should assist by facilitating anti-corruption measures, because most stolen wealth finds its way to developed countries. To an extent, corruption is found all over the world, but the case in a country like Nigeria is that it is paralyzing to economic growth.

I urge aid agencies, do not work with the government or NGOs since most of the money given them goes into consultancy. Instead, work directly with communities, set up economic activities for them to manage. Most importantly, we Africans have to wake up and make that change!!!

s

I honestly think the solution to the African crisis is within our own territory -- we have to adapt a logical approach to sustainable development.

The road to economic development will only come when we obey the basic principles of life: shunning "evil" and loving your neighbor as you love yourselves.

The economical potential of Africa is high due to the vast amount of resources in its possession. This resources can be utilized properly for the benefit of Africa only with a united Africa.

Most of the countries of Africa have high potential economically. A good deed for the development of Africa is to review the conditions that they are given when getting their loans.

The IMF and the World Bank play a big part in the neo-colonialism of Africa. Developed countries can help technologically; instead of fueling loans in Africa they should help in building huge projects by providing technology and the expertise which should be in the favor of African countries.

Over the years we have been witnesses to a vast amount of African resources leaving Africa to the satisfaction of a few. If only half of what leaves Africa could remain in Africa then in near time to come, they would be no tears in Africa.

Having been to Africa and seeing the ease of corruption, I can truly see Africa needs to start by helping itself. The people are wanting to do this but the governments are not helping the people or the country, just their own self interest. People of Africa need support. Use relief and religious organizations to help the people, not the governments.

Again I reiterate that while there is general problem of leadership in Africa, the solution to the problems of the continent must start from the followers.

It's ironic, so many 'aid' programs, campaigns of reforms and yet things still look the same. Change doesn't just happen, the people have to be willing participants, in spite of the odds.

Look at a country like Zimbabwe. Mr Mugabe's role in the country's independence cannot be marginalized. But for God's sake he's been there since independence, inflation is speculated to get over 1,000%, there are reports of opposition crackdowns and Mr Mugabe is even accused of bastardizing the economy with his brand of colonial-era leadership. Yet he is seeking a constitutional amendment to continue in power ..... ultimately the people will either get fed up of the status quo and demand a change or watch as things continue along the same old path.

This problem, simply put, has not attracted the leaders of the US government. My belief is this is because of the lack of self interest. If they had something that America needed, then the poverty level would have been taken care of many years ago.

This is a sad situation that will require countries making the effort, no one "rich" person can handle something so out of order. Teachers of birth control, funds devoted to this cause being tracked to see that the right people get the funds, buildings for humanity.

Can Africa be helped? That is an interesting question. The real one should have been, can the Western world be fair to Africa?

It's striking that most people in the Western world believe that Africa is one big country where one size should fit all. The same policies are not implemented in Asia and South America. My point is simple: everybody should stop the one-way thought and begin to consider Africa as a collection of independent states with diverse people, culture and way of life.

Also, why has Africa not moved economically? The answer can be found above. The 'leaders' and their problems are secondary and directly a product of the above assertions.

Africa has the quality of leaders the western world wants. In effect, the rape of the continent can only continue if leaders of the type we now have remain in power and continue to do so, with the help of the same Western governments that scream good governance.

So can the western world be fair to Africa? The clear answer is NO. Africa still has the necessary resources required to generate wealth in the West and until those vital resources are tapped to extinction, nothing can be done. Also, nobody can help Africa except Africans themselves. We all know what to do but have refused to act.

Africa should be the United Nations' only concern. Take it over, all of it. Then start from the top and work down.

Africa can only be helped by its leaders doing what is right and stopping what is wrong, then the citizens looking out for what they can do for the country and not what the country can always do for them.

The developed world's population do not know enough about these problems. What we need are more awareness campaigns because there are many people who are willing to help.

Act like a continent: the few are in charge, the many must stand up.

The major cause of African under-development is the issue of ignorance, particularly in the area development and civilization. To help Africa, there is a need to build developmental consciousness of the civil society.by the means of education and capacity building.

There is much talk about helping Africa out of its problems. However, I believe that the issue is not only about 'helping,' if the word is taken to mean charitable disposition towards a 'needy' member of the global community.

Real 'help' is to be preceded by certain fundamental changes in the current architecture of global governance. Not a few would agree that the current manner in which economic and political power is exercised has contributed significantly to the creation of economic, social and political conditions that Africa now needs desperate help to overcome.

Apart from politically expedient rhetoric, it is difficult to identify aspects of foreign and economic policy of developed countries that suggests an appreciation of the importance of a strong and economically viable Africa to their economic aspirations!

It is only when these fundamental policy changes are made that subsequent actions can be called 'help.' Then the issue will be about helping Africa to take advantage of new opportunities, created by new policies and disposition of the developed world.

Maybe by that time, we shall be seeing new forms of foreign investment, foreign aid and development assistance that do more for Africa's development than for the economic and political interest of developed countries

I totally agree with Joe Miner (below) that the very West which is frowning on corruption is the same one spearheading it.

As long as African leaders -- though they may be as corrupt as the sun -- are sending wealth and resources to Western countries, those countries turn a blind eye and embrace these very same CORRUPT African leaders who treat their own people like trash and dirt.

And then we want to talk about Saddam Hussein being a dictator, corrupt, and killing his own people? How about Charles Taylor of Liberia? Or about the dictatorship in Sudan right now?

Nigeria is one of the biggest suppliers of oil in Africa but who is enjoying the oil benefits when most Nigerians are living in poverty? What is the West doing to solve this problem in Nigeria, except though the West opening up its gates to get the oil?

As long as Nigeria does what the West wants it to do, Nigerians could be killed by the dozens every minute and Nigerians could eat dirt from the streets, the West will turn the other way.

There is no level playing field and this is why Africans fight and kill up each other so much: because they are tired suffering. No food, no schools, no lights, no safe drinking water, no fitting hospitals, yet Africa has gold, diamonds, oil, rubber, timber, bauxite, iron ore, etc, and to top it off Africa has the best weather any continent could have.

The Western banks should stop keeping our stolen billions, and expose the corrupt leaders.

Comment:

Is foreign aid a waste of time? No, I do not think so. But to me, the funds should never have been given to the government agencies of African nations. It was and it is the biggest mistake done. Why?

Because of the gross endemic corruption prevalent in these agencies/governments, particularly in my country, Nigeria.

There ought to be joint collaboration between the donors of this aid and those communities/individuals that need infrastructure/assistance. Wherever there is a need for aid/assistance, the donor must as a matter of urgency set up a monitoring team and deal directly with these communities/ individuals.

Where do the corrupt leaders take the loot to? Simple, Europe and America. So there you are, it takes two to tango! The West doesn't want to get serious about this problem yet. Maybe the end justifies the means, huh!

African can be helped through the UN's aid and assistance, through the AU (African Union) and other united bodies.

Send food and money. Maybe the UN can help. I am on a team in school called M.U.N. (Model United Nations) and we talk about Africa all the time....we think that every nation could pitch in whether they like it or not. Hillary.

Education is the key to success for any nation, Africa is no exception to this. Educational facilities should be given to all the people, free of cost and particularly to women.

Political stability should be maintained in order to bring to social and economic development.

Africans need to be educated. Bad leadership must be eradicated in Africa. This is because poverty in Africa is caused solely by corrupt leadership which is basically allowed because of lack of education and awareness within the populace.

Even though Africa receives aid, the people who need it most do not end up with any of it. It mostly ends up in politicians' pockets. Follow-ups need to be carried out in order to ensure that money is received by the needy and not politicians.

Africa needs not only leadership but commitment to change the present situation. That change cannot happen through violent and corrupt means. It also cannot change by simply putting money in the hands of African states' governments.

The international community and aid agencies need to have direct intervention by working together with the general populace, either directly or with the African states' governments.

While Afican states might view this as an attempt by outsiders interfering in their country affairs, i believe its the practical solution. Direct intervention will have the desired results.

The problem of African economic development can only be solved when the political elites decide to change their orientation, that governance is service to the people, while the governed must be ready to contribute their own part. The continent has enough material and human resources.

Without political and economic freedom.Africa will never actualize its potential to develop as a continent.

So many people believe corruption is Africa's major problem. It is not. Rather, the problem is African society.

In most African societies, if at the end of a tenure in office one cannot build a mansion and drive an SUV, that person will be labelled a fool. No one will like to be seen as a fool. To this end, everyone tries to prove how wise and smart he or she is to the admiration of all. Sooner or later, society pays for this.

Hi, I would like to say thanks for the great article about my beloved home continent.

I am originally from Ethiopia, East Africa but now i live in Stockholm, Sweden. I think that Africa will one day become a very rich continent. The thing we should help Africa with is education in many subjects, such as equality, bribery and other problems which are the real problems for Africa.

Education is a way to freedom. Many of my African friends living in Africa are transformed thanks to education. Through education, Africans will rise and realize that they are not less than anyone on earth. Education will help Africa.

There are many types of education and Africa needs to get a better educational plan. I hope that Africa will one day help the world just like the world is trying to help Africa.

Africa's problems are clear - no leadership, all we have is rulers who use opportunities they have to enrich themselves. We, the African people need to stand up and speak up against this norm.

A revolution of some sort might put the politicians on their toes and make them know that we know what we want and we don't mind paying the ultimate price for it.

What happened to the impetus from 2005 -- the International Year of Microcredit? Small loans for small businesses help the poor create their own pathways out of poverty. It can be one form of effective foreign aid from the wealthy west.

Microcredit is the "something to work with" sought by E.I. Efiong of Lagos (see below). It's a hand-up, not a hand-out.

Not our problem.

Africa is suffering from bad leadership. Who are they? Africans. The way out? Mass reorientation of all Africans about the level of the damage and a vigorous advocacy against misrule at all levels.

Africa's problems are basically economic and political in nature. What the West is doing in the Middle East as regards intervention against governments with policies which threaten their security is a pointer to the will of the West to solving certain problems.

We have seen the West insist on democracy and democratic practice in Africa -- this to a large extent has seen some change in the way of life and standard of living of many Africans but poverty still remains a major challenge.

Aid is good, but there should be some way for fairness in trade and its conditions. If as much money was directed towards funding agriculture, water, power supplies and the processing of our numerous mineral and natural resources it would address to a large extent the poverty problem.

The solution to Africa's problems is simple! Stop throwing money at our corrupt leaders to squander, provide support to genuine businesses in the form of simplified equipment guarantees, support the construction of basic infrstructure such as electric power, rail, roads and airports where necessary.

The regular African is hardworking, all he needs is something to work with, not hand-outs.

I'm tempted very strongly to say to the West: 'Leave Africa alone!! Let us make our way the way you did yours!'

But, sadly, I can't,and I shouldn't because the West pushed Africa to the brink and must help save it from the abyss.

More supervised aid should be granted to the continent, and the enforced repatriation of stolen loot stashed in foreign accounts by corrupt African governments. Technology transfer should be encouraged as well.

But the people living in Africa have the largest role to play. Demand your rights from your governments! Your right to education, free in some cases to encourage poor people to enroll their kids in school. Demand health-care, demand accountability from your leaders and collectively flush out corrupt leadership.

Demand infrastructure -- you pay taxes, they should be seen to be used. We should do these things NOW so that Africa will shake off the shackles of poverty, disease and backwardness.

It's not as much a problem of Africa being left behind as it is a problem of the people of Africa deciding that we really want things to change. Corrupt though the governments may be, the people of Africa must decide for and demand a change.

Africa can be helped, but the expertise of the East and West must be harnessed and be involved. Giving aid to politicians merely put it into the back pockets of party cronies.

Africa needs a tremendous amount of infrastructure -- roads, hospitals, schools. Donors must not give aid and walk away. The aid must be directed by the donors and in progressive payments with retention clauses. No progress, no payment. Skills transfer is another issue. Africa will then grow.

I was so proud the day I heard that Madame Johnson-Sirleaf would be the President of Liberia. I am still very proud of her but I wonder how her record thus far has been for the people of Liberia?

I have not had the opportunity to follow her policies and practices closely. Does anyone have any inside information? Perhaps she will become the role model for how to govern an African nation free of corruption.

I have a lot of hope invested in her. I love Africa and I am full of hopes and dreams for all that Africa has to offer its own people and the people of the world. However, without quality leadership, I'm afraid that Africa's immense potential will never be realized.

Hello. As a young African myself I find it a bit odd that the African continent is one of the poorest in the world.

There are a number of natural resources that never get to be exploited by the African people as may of them do not possess the right education/knowledge to deal with such matters.

I would like my fellow Africans to stand up and get off our behinds, rather than expecting and waiting for the West to help us develop and build our continent.

"There is no such a thing as a free lunch," therefore I believe that in their "helping ways" the Western world expects something in return, and the sad and tragic thing is that we (Africans) are blind to what it is and/may be.

Educate yourself, learn, teach and share the knowledge you possess with the rest of your fellow countrymen, and together as a unity we can help build Africa. Let our continent shine with pride from the hard work instead of shying away with shame.

Africans should be taught how to transform their resources into finished goods acceptable at international markets.

Let the West stop supporting bad governments by giving them aid. Instead, they should help civil society organizations which work directly with the grassroots population, the majority of whom live in rural villages.

Africans can also be helped by providing aid directly to organized village development associations who can themselves decide on which project to undertake to lift them out of poverty.

For me, the real problem is leadership and corruption, and if that is not tackled the change might never come.

Most leaders in Africa are of low intelligence economic-wise, they are recycled and their psyche is archaic -- they need to give way for younger generations with the skills and experience for economic change.

The West has a lot of responsibility to ensure that focus is critically and practically centered on Africa and the most underdeveloped nations.

The truth remains that African leaders are largely responsible for most of Africa's post-colonization problems. Even with the best of aid coming from the West to Africa, under the present leaders, the West is wasting its time and resources.

You won't fix a problem by throwing money at it. This is exactly how I feel the Western world's response to Africa has been. Throw money at it and maybe it will fix itself.

However, it is obvious that those billions of dollars are not having significant impact. There is a wise saying that can be paraphrased as 'Give a man a fish and his hunger will be sated for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will feed himself for the rest of his life.'

Education is, of course, a bare necessity. In addition, Africa is desperately in need of infrastructure in all levels. Money needs to be invested into building new power plants, new water treatment plants, new utilities, new housing.

However, a large obstruction to this is the governments of Africa. Africa is a continent still living in conflict and war, and I believe is a very significant source of poverty in Africa. In addition, many countries in Africa have significant amounts of corruption, as well as the dictatorships in the region.

It is a complex problem and something that will not be solved overnight or with one, simple solution, but, the first part to fixing a problem is to recognize what it is.

You can't force adults to take care of their societies. Africa has been starving for my entire life. Nothing anyone outside Africa has done has changed that. They are still starving. That is because they choose to spend their resources on wars, instead of education.

Africa starves because no one in Africa cares to not starve. Africa is on the wrong side of the digital divide because the African people do not want to work hard enough to overcome it. They want someone else to give them what they think they deserve without having to work for it themselves. I have no more pity or compassion for them.

Yes! Africa needs help and should be helped. It does make not only moral but economic sense to help Africa. More than 600 million people and counting is not a joke.

The West and its counterpart donor agencies must avoid a "one size fits all" approach to development policy interventions. We have to accept that there are macro and micro variations in resource (human and natural) endowments across the continent. For any help to have impact, each country, no matter how small, must be treated separately.

Africa could be helped, not by granting them endless loans and credit facilities, which has a lot of repercussion in terms of repayment.

Africa could be helped through empowerment, helping African people rediscover themselves, discovering their individual talents and what they can do with them.

This could be done by the introduction of information technology for everyone. Africa can also be helped through trade, by allowing their produce to compete favourably in the international market.

Political instability, corruption at the highest levels and governments' unfavorable business policies are the main cause of poverty in Africa.

I think Africa can only escape from poverty if governments give attention to human resource development and decentralizing power, with a real sense of democracy, as we have rich resources.

If new aid programs in Africa are to bear any fruit, donor nations and NGOs cannot just drop money out of the sky.

Three areas that must be tackled comprehensively are healthcare, education, and agriculture. If the West can make serious renewed efforts at this, then countless Africans will be able to get their hands on that bottom rung on the ladder to prosperity.

Not only will Africa benefit from this, but the rest of the world will benefit in increased trading opportunities in more stable, prosperous African states. There is no doubt of the enormity of the task, but there is no good reason for the developed world not to renew its efforts.

Africa faces three challenges, the main being systemic corruption enabled by bad leadership. Tribalism and nepotism are also enablers of corrupt practises.The stigmas of rampant AIDS and other diseases, and senseless warfare are also deterrents to foreign investment. I have long believed that Africa was better, the people fared better, under colonial rule. However, I believe that there is a better future ahead.

'Small is beautiful' -- start micro-businesses and Grameen bank lending policies. On the macro level, governments should improve infrastructures, impose rrural developments policies and 'import substitution' enterprises (the continent has a population base large enough to support any manufacturing base eg car manufacturing but I have not seen an African-made car as yet).

The best way is for the governments to start these mega-projects -- they have access to the capital requirements-- and once they become successful, privatize these businesses by allowing the people to buy shares (not by allocation to the corrupt officials).

My two cents worth.

The issues Africa faces are incredibly complex as we all know, so in tackling Africa's problems, efforts should be very focused.

One of the reasons that aid hasn't had the same results in Africa is because there was so much money lavished on kleptocracies during the Cold War by both capitalists and communists alike.

Africa's many problems can be solved. However, durable solutions require genuine and sustained effort from Africans.

Friends of the continent will do well in empowering Africans where you find them rather than demonizing them and pretending to care. Everyone desires the life of 'live and let live' in action. Example is better than precept.

Here is a plan that is better than the failed WTO plan:
http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=news.story.page&obj_id=131121&speeches=1

The African problem? I'd say it is a people problem, we're too busy enriching ourselves -- the government and their friends and family members are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer while the middle class is too busy surviving to even care about the situation.

Grants, aid and NGOs is not the solution -- it's the government that is the problem. We're a sovereign people and that is the problem. No one can come in and sanitize the continent. Take out the government, take out the problems of Africa.

Africa can only be helped by its leaders exhibiting good leadership and the beaviour of the African people.

African leaders don't know how to rule and most of them are corrupt. Resources are not well managed, there is little or no development of infrastructure and income is unevenly distributed and used.

African people should also take part in ensuring that there are good leaders in Africa and not leave it to the US and the Europeans.

They should come out to protest (peacefully) against bad leaders just like people in Europe and other parts of the world do.

The international community has to work together with NGOs instead of governments, in terms of giving pledges and managing spending. NGOs tend to be more transparent and take more care with African people.

By working together with NGOs, activities such using money to buy weapons or corruption can be prevented.

In my opinion the biggest problem in the African continent is the weapons market. Not only in Africa, but in the rest of the world as well. Why can't people live without weapons?

Ignorance, lack of education and the ambition to make money make Africa, and our planet, a horrible place to live. Why?

The "problem" of Africa can only be solved when the people get a proper education and their leaders don't think only of money and power.

The developed world should ensure that the wealth stolen and deposited in their countries by corrupt African leaders is returned to Africa and that wealth is used for the people.

We can help Africa only by reducing corruption, I think this is the main reason for underdevelopment.

The UN should pass a new resolution for all members saying that no more arms or munitions should be sold to any country in the world, especially Africa.

Africa is one of the most ancient continents in the world. History has it that civilization originated in Africa. But one may be tempted to ask: what is wrong with Africa in terms of development?

The problems of Africa which have given great concern to the international community, but less concern to the African leaders, cannot be fully understood unless one goes into a complex political and economic analysis, as the problems are not far removed from leadership problems and the mismanagement of resources.

Leadership is about coping with change, creating a vision of the future and inspiring the people to want to achieve the vision. Good leadership must go with strong management to reach to the desired results. Since a leader leads people, leadership should be people-oriented and with emphasis on friendliness and empowerment.

We have an economic system in Africa which has produced industrial dwarves which manufacture very few things and depend largely on others (imports) for their basic modern needs.

There is a low degree of development in the industrial, commercial and technological sectors in Africa. Despite the natural endowment of human and natural resources that could make life better for the people of this great continent, Africa is still a poverty icon of the world.

The potential of 85% of Africans is not used because there are no means of facilitating their achievements. No matter how hard the people try, there is a limit to how far they can go because there are bad systems as a result of leadership problems and the economy.

To solve these problems we have to start with our leaders.

Our leaders should look into socio-economic issues, show concern for the needs of people, consult the people, use their suggestions before making decisions and tilt decisions in favor of justice, equity, fairness and selflessness.

We need a radical reorientation with regard to our value systems on the continent.

Our system needs a serious overhaul to stop using poverty as an instrument to out manipulate the poor.

Those at the helm explore all possible avenues to make sure that the gold and silver flow to them alone at the detriment of the populace. These unscrupulous practices have resulted into several wars in Africa as the less privileged see that as the only avenue for taking away power from these tin gods.

This helps to multiply the problems of Africa by making poverty a societal disease that is eating deeply into the fiber of the people.

First of all I appreciate most of the opinions expressed by people from various parts of the world concerning Africa.

I'm a Nigerian. What really gets me aggravated is knowing that we have had a great deal of assistance from the West, and what we do to ourselves back in Africa.

The money is not distributed properly so the rich get richer and the poor remain poor.

There are millions of kids back in Africa that have no opportunity of going to school and have no homes.

Here we are with all the big words. Come on, lets be more practical and get out there and do the best we can to help rather than wait for the West to come to our rescue all the time.

I believe the best way Africa can be helped is by curbing corruption. This is the root of all evil and once implemented all areas of development will begin to improve.

Africa can be given all the aid that it requires, but as long as the money goes to a few individual pockets, what has it done for the continent?

The ability of leaders to rule a country for decades should be stop. The idea that a president can change a constitution to allow them to contest the presidency for another term should be abolished.

We should incorporate education in our everyday activities. An educated society makes informed decision.

This is the only way I believe that we will fight poverty and disease. All the technology in the world can be brought into the continent but as long as only a few benefit, what reward will it be to the continent?

It is time for Africans to rise and fight corruption. This is a disease that is killing the continent.

I believe that only Africa can help Africa, but that will not be possible until sub-Saharan Africa is healthy enough to do this for itself.

It will not happen until we help provide a market for their goods and services. We of the Western world need to try and get our governments to live up to their promises, rather than just giving enough to keep the status quo.

Africa needs their own governments to put in and ENFORCE laws to protect the rights of women who are the cement that holds any nation together.

Hopefully we will start to see death rates from AIDS reduce. Only when women have the right to say no, and have the ability to demand safe marital relations, can this downward spiral be stopped. This will allow children to grow up with mothers and teachers.

The Western world needs to provide food so that children are fed. Healthier children will, be able to better survive diseases and grow into workers for the farms and fields and other jobs which will make them productive citizens.

Schools have the best opportunity to teach not only reading and writing and math, but also respect and equality between males and females so that future generations will work to support each other, rather than having positions of power and powerlessness.

This is not a one-dimensional problem. It will not have a simple answer. However, many little things could result in the tipping point when Africa starts to stand on it's own two feet.

Africa left behind? Left behind by who?

Agreed, the worst kind of rape in human and material resources was carried out against Africa through colonialism, but what has Africa made of the 40 years or so of post-colonialism self rule?

Buck passing by a class of greedy, self righteous and self-perpetuating breed of rulers is the problem with Africa.

This problem is compounded by the insatiable appetite of the developed nations for the wealth and material resources of Africa. In the name of global village, Africa is pillaged with the resultant effects of inequality, trade deficits, the unfavorable balance of payments, corruption, capital flights and so on.

How can Africa be helped? They say charity begins at home. The solution should come from Africans themselves.

Africans should rise to the occasion and do away with the corrupt leadership who use wars and all forms of divisive tendencies to perpetuate themselves in power.

This will bring about better management and use of resources. It will also stop the stashing away of our monies in foreign financial institutions.

I think that the greatest help that the international community can give to Africa is to set up a machinery which makes it possible for these leaders to be punished for crimes against their own people.

Africa can be helped in several ways -- foreign aid, etc, is perhaps the least of Africa's needs. Pressure on African leader to be prudent and transparent from the UN and the developed world is the best way to secure Africa's future.

It is good that the democratization of the continent is on course, but sometimes it seems to me that the UN and the donor nations are inconsistent in their support for Africa -- they often wait until the avoidable conflicts happen before rushing in with aid.

The world can nip most political (or rather ethnic) conflicts in the bud by simply intervening at the time it is brewing rather than waiting until it happens. The cases of Rwanda, Liberia and Sudan are good examples.

To me, donor nations have a stake in protecting Africa and therefore have the legitimacy to intervene in "internal" affairs when it becomes glaringly clear that the political authorities are driving their countries into conflicts.

How long will Africa continue to rely on aid? For how long will the taxpayers in the West endure the drain in their resources? A century more, two, or three?

Poverty in Africa can be made history only in the absence of conflicts. All conflicts in Africa could be avoided but only when the West and the UN act decisively. The time for diplomacy with bad governments in Africa should end now!

Africa is not a continent left behind. If Africans say that we are left behind then we decided to leave ourselves behind. Look at the wealth gap between the rich and the poor in Africa; we can't even boast of having a middle class.

Africa can only be helped by first of all wiping out all the despots, capitalist leaders and dictators, and embracing the tenets of democracy.

Then we can reshuffle all political, economic and social systems. In Cameroon, I can't still believe, even in my numb condition, that we have a president ruling for 21yrs -- is he the most competent of leaders?

Africa can only be effectively helped if it first accepts all its problems and makes a solemn pledge to change. There is no deity or magic hand that will do it overnight for them. They got brains and balls, they must wake up.

It is clearer every day that this continent has been forgotten. Although the West is not the only factor to blame for the extreme poverty in the region, it is certain that more things can be done to help them catch up and the only ones with enough capacity to do it is the West.

Until the West can show increased efforts in trying to help these nations it will be impossible for them to develop.

It really is quite a puzzle when you start looking for a single answer to all the problems that are facing Africa.

Notably, people have to understand Africa as a continent, a complex entity with varying cultural beliefs, glaring inequality among the population, different demographics, poverty levels and different structures of governance.

For starters, the people of Africa will have to start believing in themselves. They will have to stop looking towards the West and donor agencies for finding a solution for themselves.

What Africa is going through now is not unique to Africa. However, the difference is that years of neglect, corruption and conflict have ruined the infrastructure and governance structure, which has led to economic inequalities between rich and poor, brain drain and a feeling of hopelessness.

Good governance structures have to be reinstated, transparency and accountability should be practised to reflect the will and desire to move forward.I also believe Western powers and donor agencies should look beyond their commercial interests and PR exercises to honestly develop and empower the residents of Africa.

I also think that being the only remaining 'virgin territory' in terms of trade and investment opportunities, Africa should come out of its colonial hang-up and realize its potential and become the regional giant that it truly deserves to be.

It breaks my heart to see the children across Africa suffering in such dire conditions, and we have been experiencing all this for many decades -- enough is enough.

All the nations of the world need to come together, double or quadruple their efforts to improve the situation in Africa, because whatever effort is being made is not enough and that is very clear.

New alliances need to be created with the governments of these African nations to rid the countries of civil war and political instability.

Isn't there enough food in the world? Just go through the annual statistics of food consumption around the world and it is astonishing how much extra food is wasted each year, yet the children in Africa remain malnourished. Why is this so?

Whatever the cost, the children must not suffer, aren't they citizens of this world, don't they deserve better lives, better food and clothing? I think the entire African aid relief strategy needs to be revised, this suffering has to end.

Imagine yourself (God forbid) in such a situation, what would we do? We as citizens of this world need to start taking some drastic measures -- 50 billion dollars a year is simply not enough, as can be judged by the results, whereas investment in nuclear technology is 10 times more, something to think about.

Education is the answer.

How can Africa tackle its problems? Certainly, by (other countries) reducing protectionist measures taken against African products.

Africa has received a lot of aid of the last 20-30 years, yet we have not been able to make any headway in our development.

We complain always about the West not being fair to us, yet still we have not been fair to ourselves. The Asian Tigers were able to develop within the same environment that we are complaining about. Malaysia is a typical example.

In 1980 when (former Malaysian prime minister) Mahathir Mohamad took over, Ghana's former president did the same. They spent almost the same time in power, but Mahathir left Malaysia strong, prosperous and developed while Ghana was left in a state where the finances of the country were in a perilous state.

It is not the system of world trade which has impoverished us, though it is a contributing factor, but rather a deficit of visionary leadership that recognizes that even in these unfair trading world economic system there exists opportunities that will require taking decisions that may not be pleasant but necessary.

We have chosen to take the easy path of resistance and thus we will continue to wallow in our poverty.

I think the West has woken up to the fact that Africa's issues are not just African, because what goes around comes around.

The issue of aiding the fight against corruption is a good one. This is Africa's greatest menace. The West, before now used to side with corrupt leaders in a sly way. At the moment, they are speaking, acting and working against corruption.

This, coupled with debt forgiveness -- debt incurred before now by corrupt leaders -- will go a long way to aid Africa.

Africa as a whole, ever since independence, has never enjoyed total liberation from colonialism, since the Western world does not give room to Africa to govern itself.

Africa will come to the limelight when we are given total freedom to govern ourselves. My opinion is that the westerners, those from Europe and the Middle East, should all stay out of African politics -- then Africa's economy will grow.

Each of the G8 nations must 'adopt' an African country for a five-year development period.

We need to see more action for these nations, rather than just some good speeches. This can have a domino effect in the region.

The existing (African) governments are incapable of leading the change. They should be replaced by a UN-sanctioned governing council, consisting of representatives of the adopting country. The governing council would be supported by UN peacekeepers, to help implement the change.

After five years, the authority could be gradually shifted back to local representatives.

I think a good way to help Africa is not to lend money, instead the NGOs must be there and help with knowledge and education.

Instead of sending money to the African nations, knowing well that the vast majority of the funds will disappear into the pockets of the minority of people who really don't need money, send UN Peace Corps workers to "assist" the various countries in re-establishing a descent level of living for all.

During the 1940s in the USA, when a family needed assistance to build a barn, or other needs, the neighbors (near and far) came to give a helping hand. No money ever crossed over.