[ 2017-02-24 ]

K.B Asante,retired diplomat

'Bad policies' cause of Ghana's dependency on donors - KB Asante
Ghana and Africa continue to rely on aid from
donor agencies and developed countries because of
the “bankrupt policies” of successive
governments, retired diplomat K.B Asante has
said.

Some stakeholders have argued that foreign aid is
impeding the growth of Ghana and other African
countries and have, therefore, suggested fair
trade with the West rather than aid.

Speaking on World Affairs on Class91.3FM on
Friday, 24 February, Mr Asante noted that Ghana
had gone beyond requesting for aid but said even
if the need to borrow arises, the loan obtained
should be used to improve the economy and not be
misused.

“We have long passed aid and why some still
think of aid I don’t understand. It is because
of bankrupt policies which they carry out which
brings problems to the country to balance budget
and the economy and, therefore, you’re forced to
take a pittance now and again and by so doing,
mentally, you become subservient,” he stated.

Asked by show host Dr Etse Sikanku if aid was
hurting Africa and should be scrapped, Mr Asante
said: “Many donor agencies have them in their
programmes and have in their budget small amounts
for aid to developing countries. And so if you are
taking why should they stop?”

According to him, scrapping aid was not the
solution to the problem in Ghana and Africa at
large. “That’s not the problem. Let’s look
at ourselves, why should we need aid? We can
borrow and use the money well to improve the
economy but we shouldn’t borrow to go and
‘chop’ for corruption. If we do that, we shall
stay where we are.”

Source - classfmonline.com

... go Back