Despite African countries producing raw materials to be used by the rest of the world, the countries and their citizens are still languishing in poverty just relying on financial aid from the West.
Dr Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, a Sierra Leonian Agricultural economist and politician told the West in a meeting that Africa does not need the usual financial aid but resources to help them build manufacturing capabilities in Africa.
He added that he gets funding from his agency to study Africa’s potential to process mango and other fruits but he doesn’t get the money that can help him build the pilot processing plant.
“Can you help me combine your aid from the Dutch government with the processing company where you help put part of the money and I build a pilot plan to show the president that he can process his mango and other fruits and put it in Tesco, London,” the outspoken leader said.
Dr Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella further elaborated that, that is what is needed to be seen in Africa, especially in solving food crises in Africa not just as an emergency but how we combine the private-public partnership with some public venture capital to help these countries link to the global market.
“On the issue of Community Social Responsibility (CSR), let us face it. Africa is washed by minerals and this is the main reason why investments are coming. By the way, in spite of the lack of rule of law and democracy, they are still coming to sign contracts with African Nations,” he stated.
Kandeh further explained that African Nations can have a CSR policy that directs the companies to reveal their revenue. This is to ensure they don’t import foodstuff to feed their local workers but instead help local workers to produce chicken and other agribusiness products.
“Can we have a common value system with CSR for everybody in the country? Our comparative reality is still mineral. We want 50 years after training with the world, these companies will say, with their enlightening self-interest, that they also invested in agribusiness supply chains so that Africa can supply food to the West,” he added.
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