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Finally. Africa needs to get China out of there, pronto. Africa does not need help building roads, railways or opening businesses. Is there anything that Africans can not do; is there a resource that Africa does not have? And yes, I am putting all the nations together because in the end, you only have each other, those in the diaspora, and African-Americans (yes, we really do care).

What Africa should do, and most of you will not agree with this, is to create a partnership with an entity who will not only not exploit Africa, but will help improve the economic outlook.

Yep. You know who I'm talking about...Walmart. Look at what WM has done for Mexico. WM has had to help China build roads to create an infrastructure that will support their distribution network.

Also, WM uses workers from the country they are in...they do not import thousands of workers. They create ties to the communities and the local economies and because they use local suppliers whenever possible, they increase sales and services in other industries. Their management training programs help people with social mobility.

Somebody needs to pitch this to them & see if they bite.

On 05/10/10, victor narwortey  <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

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> Professor George Ayittey, a lecturer in economics and researcher on African issues has raised thought provoking issues on China for the critical consideration by the Ghanaian government in its dealings with the Asian giant. 
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> He said the nation must be extremely cautious about the Chinese forays into Africa and that government must not be bamboozled into operating the fallacious notion many African governments have held that "the enemy of my enemy must be my friend". 
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> "In the past, Africa was exploited by the West; colonised and enslaved by the West. Because the West is an enemy of China, Africa is embracing China whole heartedly as if the enemy of my enemy must be my friend. 
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> "We should learn from history and remember that every foreign entity that comes to Africa comes
>  here to pursue its own interests. The Americans, the British, the Russians, the Arabs - all come here to pursue their own interests. The Chinese don't come to Africa because they love Black people; they come here to pursue their own interests," he stressed. 
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> Prof. Ayittey was speaking on the last edition of the quintessential profile TV show 'Time with David' run on TV3, a local TV Station. 
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> He said Chinese investments in Africa should be welcome, but when they come they must play by the rules; "everybody must play by the same rules," he emphasised. 
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> He described as unfortunate the Chinese access to Ghana's retail business, gold buying and selling business, and small-scale mining (galamsey) sector. Besides, when they win a contract they do not hire many locals but bring the bulk of their
>  workforce from China; all in violation of the laws that govern the conduct of business in the country. 
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> Prof. Ayittey therefore took a swipe at the law enforcement agencies for failing in their role appallingly. 
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> He revealed an emerging secret Chinese plan, called the ‘Chong-Ching experiment’ in which they want to resettle up to 12 million Chinese people right here in Africa. 
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> "They want land in Africa to re-settle their surplus population… I describe it as 'chop-stick mercantilism'; they are not being; straight forward with Africans," he noted. 
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> Prof Ayittey warned of Chinese investments that are being secured under barter terms, because they appear to be playing to the advantage of the Chinese. 
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> Examples are Ghana's US$622 million Bui Dam, a hydro-electric project to
>  generate 400 megawatts of power for which the Chinese are providing funds and Ghana is paying part in Cocoa. 
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> Another is Nigeria, where China wants to repair the country's dilapidated railway system in exchange for eight oil blocs. 
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> "A barter deal with China - in which China sets the rules - has a huge potential for graft and corruption. Everybody should be able to see it and say exactly how much Africa is getting from the deal. We should ensure that African workers are used," Prof. Ayittey pointed out. 
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> He took a loaded swipe at African leadership for its awful corruption which he blamed in most part for the plight the continent finds itself in. 
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> He indicated that if only the continent's resources were well and honestly managed, Africa would not need the aid resources it has received. 
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> "The African Union says that corruption alone costs Africa US$148 billion each year. This compares with the US$30 billion foreign aid
>  that comes to Africa from all sources. 
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> "This only means that Africa's begging bowl leaks very horribly; I mean you put US$30 billion into Africa and US$148 billion leaks away. Now that should tell you Africa does not need aid," Prof. Ayittey said. 
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> He urged the Ghanaian government not to allow the expected revenues from the oil and gas production to drain through the "black-hole," as in the case of Nigeria - where between 1970 and 2004 an estimated US$450 billion oil revenue, comprising taxes, royalties and profits flowed into the Nigerian government coffers but US$412 billion of these were stolen by Nigerian military rulers.
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> Source: B&FT 
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-- 
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~ 49.5 million US abortions since 1973; ~ 18 million Black babies aborted since 1973; ~ 5.6 million abortions in Africa between 1995-2003; ~ 12 million Africans sold into slavery between 15th - 19th centuries; ~ 2 million Africans died during Middle Passage (number uncertain).

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