This post is going to be a bit different that the usual ones. Today’s post will point out Africa’s biggest challenge for its development. In fact, this post is one of the most difficult ones for me, as every word of it is (sadly) true. This is a text that is credited to the former CEO of a regional bank in Burkina Faso.
Not only he rightfully expressed one of the biggest plagues in some African countries, but he provided concrete example on how it affects the every day livelihood of the mother continent. I most say, I agree to it. Every. Single. Point. Of. It. Here are the former CEO’s words:
Africa’s biggest challenge
I used to criticize African companies like Dangote Group for hiring so many Indians when there are many unemployed Africans, but now I understand their painful decision.
The biggest challenge in our manufacturing businesses is neither power nor infrastructure: the biggest challenge is getting honest staff.
Everyone we hire seems to be on a mission to steal: many inflate invoices as much as possible, and record less than the actual number of units produced.
The worst part about this is that all the fraud we have uncovered is not committed by one person. It is usually many staff members colluding with each other, from production to sales and accounting. This includes management members.
I had to review my management staff 3 times in one year. It got so bad at one point that my main criteria for hiring staff was no longer competence or degrees, but honesty. The skills and abilities can be acquired, but once you are dishonest, you are beyond repair.
Imagine if Africa’s biggest challenge was off the table…
We always complain about the economy and the fact that there are no jobs. I know people abroad who would love to start job-creating businesses in Africa, but they can’t because they can’t get someone they trust to run it.
I know people in Africa with so much money, who’d want to start factories and other job-creating businesses, but they can’t because they are busy elsewhere and can’t get someone they trust enough to run the business. So instead of investing fruitful sectors and creating jobs, such people buy treasury bills, while the thieves scream no jobs and no food.
I am convinced big African organizations like Dangote Group can set up shop in any African country and therefore create millions of jobs. However, I bet corruption and dishonesty at the top of government is what keeps them from helping Africa.
Africa would birth many great companies if we could engage in partnerships, but we can’t because no one can be trusted.
This is an advantage that the Indians and Lebanese have over us, inhabitant of Africa. They can pool resources and do mega-businesses, unlike Africans. Since we can’t partner, one person has to do everything. As a result, we end up with small and very small businesses in Africa.
This also concern siblings. The closing down of super stores in East Africa (which could’ve become the African’s Walmart’s) is a great example of why siblings can’t do business together.
Typical examples of theft in business in Africa
Start a poultry farm and employees steal your eggs. Some will even go ahead and kill the chickens so they are allowed to take them home.
Start an entertainment/viewing/gaming center and they will pocket your money. On the days you are in the premises, the money made will be ten times more than when you are not there. Because they are spending your money and eating their future.
Buy and lease a vehicle to a driver, and watch as they finish you off.
Start a restaurant, the same thing will happen. More than half of the total food ingredients will end up in their personal kitchens.
Even ordinary grocery store or kiosk attendants will find a way to steal from small investors.
Worst of all: they even dare quoting their perversity by saying, “if you can’t beat them, join them!“
Imagine them justifying stealing at work, killing their own jobs and the development of Africa.
You will witness such employees pointing their twisted fingers at politicians when they are no different.
I believe that the reason most Africans have not stolen billions of government money is simply because of the lack of opportunity.
Development with dishonesty is impossible
To the few honest Africans, both in government and in the private sector, who are considered as stupid: You are not stupid. You are exactly what Africa desperately and painfully needs.
How are we going to evolve when those who are supposed to oversee and manage stores, kiosks, supermarkets, factories, schools, hospitals, water works, road construction, street cleaning, power plants, bus fleets, parking collections, building construction, etc., are the ones who conspire to steal from small local investors, large local investors, governments and foreign investors?
By what means will we develop ourselves when our school principals are the ones plotting to steal school supplies, school fees and school food from the canteens, etc.?
How can we improve when our hospital officials are the ones who plot to steal medicine, beds, sheets, blankets, food, consultation fees, etc.? How? Indeed, how? Our beloved continent is mourning.
How can Africa grow when the officials responsible for ensuring and enforcing standards and reducing cost estimates, are the ones conspiring with local and foreign contractors to inflate costs and reduce work standards in order to steal public money for their personal gain?
At all levels, Africans are Africa’s problem.
Honesty starts from the leadership
In my opinion the reason why Rwanda is a rising star in Africa is that Rwandans and foreign development partners and investors know that the country’s top leadership cannot accept dishonesty in both the public and private sectors. We must replicate such leadership standard continent-wide.
Imagine we had 54 Paul Kagame at the head of all African countries!!! No wonder the so called Western countries do not want that, as they know that Africa would be FIRST within 10 years.
We Africans need to wake up and rethink Africa.
Regardless of the jobs – from the sweeper to the craftsman, the salesman, the storekeeper, the driver, the tea or coffee or flower picker, the purchasing manager, the head of the governor, the nurse, the doctor, the cook, the painter, the builder, the senator and the minister – Africans must be honest for the sake of Mother Africa.
By being dishonest, we violate our beloved Africa. Foreign elements know and are are very well aware of our dishonesty. So they come to Africa to steal our vast natural resources mercilessly and give a few crumbs of bread to those Africans in charge of running our countries. All this at the great expense of our development and self-sufficiency.
Who will save us from ourselves?
Africa can rise again.
Let Africa rise.
Stand up and be counted as a people. It is time to CHANGE…
Karim KONE, former CEO of BRS (now ORABANK) Burkina
Back to Lorraine
That is it. In a nutshell, Mr KONE has summarized one of the biggest reasons Africa is still not amongst the developed continents. I believe that if such mindset persist, our great beloved continent will remain the same in 50 years. Can we afford keeping up that mindset? Loosing our home to foreign work force because of ethics in works is a pity.
Honesty is a must. No one can respect us if we have no honesty. Honesty sets the tone of a society and of how people interact amongst themselves. Who’d want to stay in a place there is dishonesty reigns?! No one. Africa is our home. We cannot let dishonesty infest it. It is a plague we need to be stop expanding. And kicking out of our shores.
There are so many other dishonesty exposed regarding work ethics in Africa, or Africa people in general. Just look at this forum to see the extend of it. Aren’t we tired of such reputation? Reputation is everything. One may have everything, but if their reputation is bad, they have nothing. If dishonest is still part of Africa’s biggest challenge, then before long, we won’t call Africa home anymore.
What do you think of the former CEO’s stand point? Are his words accurate enough? Are they fair and faithful to reality? Do you think Africa’s biggest challenge lies in the global dishonesty of its work force and leadership ? I’d love to read you thought in the comment section.
This post aimed to expose Africa’s biggest challenge, through the words of former BRS CEO Karim KONE. Feel free to share and comment.