Muted voices of powerless poor "oily" Africans (PDF)

Essay from the year 2005 in the subject African Studies - Miscellaneous, grade: "none", Lund University, course: Development Studies, language: English, abstract: The following exposition on the World Bank and the projects they fund in some African Countries is like agreeing to lend your friend your gun knowing fully well they intend to commit suicide with it

They only difference between the World Bank and the projects they fund vis- a- vis my suicide- committing friend is that the projects are real weapons that kill people while my suicide- committing friends remain figments of my imagination.

In this paper, I have argued that the World Bank, for "oily" reasons, have funded projects in Africa not because they sought to assist in developing the continent but more so they can benefit and take African oil home. I have used evidence from different sources that include the World Bank itself to fault this selfish capitalist mode of unsustainable operation. This paper notes that the problems ensuing from the foregoing are further compounded by the involvement of corrupt African leaders.

It is my contention that to a large extent the World Bank is most guilty since they provide the "pistol" used by African leaders to impoverish the poor masses. In more recent times the situation of the poor around the globe has become an international issue. The right of the poor to good standards of living as noted in the UN declaration on human rights has contributed to increased global concerns on the situation of the poor. I conclude by stating that proper development should focus on the people, and that the World Bank should live up to what it stands for as expounded in it claims that the poor need to be offered means to security, opportunity and empowerment.