Money Alone Can’t Help Beat Poverty in Africa – What is Needed?
Recently, Nigeria rose to the top surpassing India in terms of the number of its population living in poverty. The oil-rich country has 87 million people living under the poverty with 6 people falling into extreme poverty despite being the fastest growing economy in Africa.
The trend isn’t in Nigeria only. Some of the resource-rich countries in Africa like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola feature an exploitative elite and multinational companies that act as major bottlenecks for wealth reach to the majority of its residents. It is predicted that by the year 2030, Africa will be leading with 82 percent of the world’s poorest people.
But what seems to the problem? The paradox is that Africa has natural resources and mineral reserves alongside extreme poverty.
The lack of material resources or an income deprivation has historically been an issue predominantly dealt with as poverty. Africa’s dependency on foreign aid has always been termed to create a dependency syndrome, dishonest procurement, and white elephant projects.
Foreign aid has been criticized and accused of facilitating paternalism instead of a partnership. In truth, poverty isn’t only about the money, and if that were the case, the numerous billions poured to Africa as aid would have changed the continent. That said, what does Africa need?
FIFA Plans to Work with Ghana’s Government
FIFA, the world soccer ruling body stated that the Ghanaian has vowed to cease the process of winding up the country’s football association (GFA) following corruption allegations.
Earlier in the week, the body gave Ghana a suspension warning that would have barred Ghana from international football. However, the two have agreed to work together “to offer leadership in reforming football administration in Ghana and in Africa”.
According to reports, FIFA will also work with the country’s government to fight corruption alongside other associated criminal conduct from the administration of football in Ghana.
The two sides are set to establish a normalization committee aimed at administering football in the country as well as a task force to create disciplinary, governance and auditing mechanisms.
“Satisfied with the above measures, the Ghanaian government shall take steps to discontinue the process for the winding up of the Ghana Football Association,” FIFA said in a statement.
Nevertheless, FIFA hasn’t conspicuously stated that the threat to suspend Ghana from international soccer has been officially withdrawn.