The Black Man: On Capitalism or Socialism

By: Kwaku A. Danso

Western Education has been a blessing and a curse on the black man. Why? We have refused to use our own sense of initiative and common sense in finding creative solutions!
Western education has blinded and brainwashed the black man to the extent leaders will gladly put their trust in the white man, the same man who enslaved and exploited him for centuries, all because the net worth of most of these men are directly tied to their religion even while they watch and collaborate for the looting of their peoples natural resources. The rest of the story in poverty of black nations!

In the last half century the world has become more tolerant as men have learned that economic and human development of nations may have nothing to do with what religion a man believes in or what form of political ideology, Capitalism or Socialism a leadership may choose.
Pragmatic visionary leaders like Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore found that singing the songs of Socialism was no way to attract capital and put food on the table for his people. He chose partnership with American capitalists to build factories in his country and provide employment for his people. Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana chose the state resources as capital for similar pursuits. He made the mistake of thinking that everybody was equally a friend and coined the term “non-aligned” nations! Nkrumah the beloved man of Africa died in exile; today his haters and former adversaries smile and trying to change history!

The Fate of the Black Man:
History may not have been fair to the black race. In the 13th Century, according to Prof. Ernesto d’Armesto, history shows that the richest nation on earth was the old Ghana Empire of black Africans. However, there were times, not long ago, when some men, albeit Christians or Moslems, thought black men were only a little more than animals, merely worth using as beasts of burden in slavery or colonialism, or just killing!  Even today some nations in the Middle East have been reported using blacks as domestic slaves.
The only key factors that seems to have changed in history, have been what and how leaders thought were their responsibilities in shaping the destiny of their people, for the people, and not for the egos of these leaders.

The Pragmatic -ism:
Most men would perhaps like to reap without sowing as the good book requires of us. Americans have a saying that there is no free lunch. Enough learning should lead to a conclusion. After fifty years of studying the West and the East, I don’t think either of the -isms will work for Ghana /Africa until we black people learn the discipline of following some rules and laws of rewards and punishments we all agree to, and hopefully these will include laws about
1. Defined Public interest and ethics and what constitutes public theft, and the Consequences;

2. Defined Conflict of interest in public service,

3. Expected work output for salary being paid by an employer, private or public.

4. Definition and distinction of the value of an asset, personal and public.

Without these principles well understood within our culture, capitalism or socialism will not work in Africa. They are meaningless.

Leadership:

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