I get shocked at some of the thesis and assertions many Ghanaians are making about this Chinese people and their presence in Africa.I do not presume to be abreast with all the facts about this Chinese people,but at least I have a fair idea about the issues and I want to cut my teeth on the current state of affairs between Africa and China.The fact of the matter is that the whole of Africa has a population of just a little over 1 billion,and China as a country also has a population of over 1 billion,therefore the number one priority of their government is to look for avenues to create Jobs for the Chinese population whether at home or abroad but especially abroad due to their population density,and this is the top most priority of every government.
Have you heard of China government borrowing money to any African country without involving a Chinese labor force?and has there been a transfer of skills or expertise to any of these African countries? Karl Marx was right 'the economy is the basis of every social system,the one who controls it controls all the other social institution and dictates the pace at which the society develops'.
A lot of people talk about 'China's win-win approach'. That sounds true on the face of paper. However,they do not care about democracy in African,neither do they care about corruption,nor bad governance,they are just interested in investing and getting their returns,shouldn't that be a worry to the citizenry of these countries going for bonds and loans from them. I agree that finance is pivotal in the development of every country,but not at the expense of the peace,stability and the socio-politocal development of the country.
The Chinese presence in Africa is not as bad as some traditionalist want us to belief as compared to the earlier encounter we had the European super powers and the hegemony they exerted on Africa in every facet of life including the use of Africans as slaves and finding religious dogmas to buttress their ethnocentric proclivities.
However,the Chinese presence also reminds a lot of Africans who experienced a little of the European dominance,as well as those who have vividly read about it,that China is just another super power invading Africa,but this time not from Europe but Asia,and they are just displaying 'a foot in the door' approach in their relations with Africa unlike the Europeans who used their military dominance;their real colours will come to light when the whole of Africa become indebted to them.I must say that these are genuine concerns,however we can learn some few things from the Chinese unlike the European super powers which kept us in ignorance for a long time,and has built a world economic system that ensures that we are always at the mercy of their pseudo generosity,funds and loans.
Indeed,one thing I like about the Chinese is their work ethics and their moderate appetite for pleasure,unlike those from the West who come here as contractors and ask to be housed in 5 star accommodations,the Chinese are known for their 'iron rice' principle,whereby they sleep in moderate accommodations or even the sites where they store the construction materials and rather save the money they get here and send it back into.their country to spend it within their economy,hence enhancing their economy and developing China.
This is a people who where also considered a Third World country some few decades ago,how come they are now ahead of every one and only behind the USA arguably on paper.These Chinese people were virtually dominated by Japan in every area,today Japan is a no match for this Chinese guys.It only means they are doing something the rest are not doing,and in my opinion,we should be asking ourselves as a people,that what are they doing right? what can we learn from them and how can we adapt it to our current conditions,and move properly beyond aid and dependence,rather than just chanting slogans and dieing from loans,budget deficits every year,structural adjustments and debts.
My position is clear,we need money to develop, it instead of going tp borrow,looking for aid and going for bonds that will make us indebted to others,let us arise as a people ans hold the pieces that God has blessed us with,and with the right attitude towards national development and rightful heart proceed as one people rather than allowing partisan politics to divide us,and politicians to lie to us.Yes every society needs leadership to thrive,and so we need our governments,but they have always proved irresponsible in many African countries,and until the citizenry rise and hold them responsible,they will keep taking us on a ride.Martin Luther King Jr was right "people will only ride your back when you bend your back for them". Let us arise and walk straight.Let us start from our families,our churches,schools,market,the little corners we find ourselves,and together we can take it national and to the international stage.
Before anybody considers me Anti-Europe or US,let me be succinctly clear that I am not Anti-China nor Anti-US nor Anti-West, neither am I Pro-any of them,I am an African,a Ghanaian to be specific,and a proud one of course.
I believe that as country and as a people,we must be responsible for our own future and destiny. It is not just the responsibility of the government,it is our responsibility as a people,an irresponsible citizenry will only produce an irresponsible government,because the people in government are from among the citizenry.
Africa will never develop because her boyfriend is China or her husband is the US,Africa will only develop because her people understands that their development is their own responsibility,and can hold their leaders accountability for the things entrusted unto their care.We do not just owe our countries our best efforts,we also owe our God explanations for how we treated the nations he positioned us in and the capacity he privileged us to serve in.God bless Africa,God bless Ghana.God bless us all.