Africa: much of the development now taking place on the continent can be traced to other more internal causes, such as an increased involvement of the private sector in the economy

Leadership transforms Africa, not aid

Eugene Ohu

8 years after Gleneagles, Britain’s former prime minister Tony Blair writes that"Aid has transformed Africa" praising his own efforts and those of Bono and Bob Geldof, and that Gleneagles can “claim some credit” to whatever progress noticeable in Africa today (health, economy, education). 

Yet there are those like Greg Mills writing from South Africa who argue that "Bob Geldof is wrong about Africa" and that instead of external aid, it is effort from within, such as improving governance and transparency that is helping Africa. 

Much has been said about how corruption has made nonsense of so much money pumped into Africa from outside. 

Corruption rears its head when despotic African leaders pocket money meant for development, and when aid agencies spend more on internal bureaucracy and staff benefits than on the real needs of Africans.

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