The Mo Ibrahim Foundation’s Executive Director and former United Nations Under-Secretary-General at the Economic Commission for Africa Abdoulie Janneh recently wrote an opinion piece on the role of good governance in addressing the climate crisis in the aftermath of COVID-19 in Africa.
The article, published by Thomson Reuters Foundation, emphasised how it is only through sound governance that the continent will be able to power economies, invest in human development and create jobs.
Africa does not lack visions and plans for socio-economic development. What has been missing is the consistent, high-quality leadership that improves and implements those plans.
Abdoulie also highlighted that, in light of the pandemic and the climate emergency, traditional economic models in Africa have to change in favour of a green transition with a focus on the potential of Africa’s solar power, soil minerals, and youthful labour force.
Africa’s leaders will have to eliminate the wholesale export of these vital natural resources, build the industries and services for local processing, transformation and distribution, and grow a young workforce with appropriate skills for the new, digitized world of work.
He concluded with a call for African countries to work together and combine their energy resources to progress towards green industrialisation.
Challenged and vulnerable but also rich and strong, Africa must move forward with confidence. It must boost economic activity within and between countries and sub-regions while preparing to seize the vast opportunities in the African Continental Free Trade Area.
