shaby tech

Factors That Hinder Development In Africa

 

The economic growth of Africa is dependent on various factors, among them infrastructure development, higher education and investment.  Nevertheless, inadequate and poor infrastructure, high transportation costs and civil strife hold back Africa’s development. Here’s an in depth look at other factors that are slowing down advancement in Africa.

·                  Limited technology capabilities

It is really disheartening that African nations do not understand that the major difference between underdeveloped countries and developed nations of America, Asia and Europeis basically technological capability. This refers to how a country can access, create and utilize science and ICT for solving socio-economic issues. The world is increasingly being driven by technological innovation. Medicine, agriculture, transportation, water and clean are all based ultimately on science and ICT. Hence, it is apparent that to become successful in this modern world, technology elements must be incorporated into the improvement process.

·                  Poor economic structures

Due to the reluctance of adopting technology, most African nations have not changed their economic structure since gaining independence from the West. Actually, most if not all African nations still rely heavily on exporting various raw materials like gold, diamond, cocoa, timber and bauxite, all in raw forms. There is completely no value added to the raw materials before exportation so as to earn more money on the global market. If African nations import matches, computers, toys, toothpicks and other industrial products from abroad, what it means is that Africans don’t have the ability to manufacture these things.

·                  Lack of education

Education is a vital developmental tool as it promotes entrepreneurship and also creates a highly skilled workforce. Only quality education can give the African populace the correct skills and knowledge to create and manufacture things. Thus, it is true to say that the current education offered in countries within the continent hasn’t enabled the students to produce anything of worth. It is for these reasons that changes must be made in the education system to ensure that students are being equipped with the right kind of information that will enable them participate in the global market.

·                  Overdependence on foreign aid

Even though foreign aid is beneficial, over reliance on this aid usually causes a nation’s economy to stagnate. In Africa, foreign donations make up a large percentage of a country’s budget and this should not be the case. It is no longer okay for countries to wait for aid so as to improve the infrastructure or enhance education. Africans should look towards creating revenue rather than just budgeting for and spending what they are given by developed countries.

·                  Civil wars

Civil war is a major deterrent to development. This can be seen in some of the poor countries in Africa like Somalia, Sudan, Congoand Sierra Leone. When there is civil war, investors cannot dare to invest in such a country and thus it inhibits the creation of employment opportunities. In addition, infrastructure also suffers since the country will be more inclined to spend its limited resources on fighting equipment rather than enhancing infrastructure.

In conclusion,

Africa faces the problem of insufficient technology application, corruption and bad leadership. All these problems are repairable provided the respective parties are willing to work together to ensure Africa takes it place at the global marketplace.

written by shamilly

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dodoma tanzania