It is true that the effects of colonialism still linger in many African nations, but it would be wrong to suggest that Africans should solely attribute their political and economic problems to colonialism. It is important for policymakers to recognize the range of factors involved when addressing current issues in Africa. To begin with, much harm was done during colonial times, including slavery and exploitation of resources (Chabal & Daloz 1999). Unfortunately, this left many countries with a legacy of weak institutions, corruption and poor infrastructure which continues to limit growth today.
However, while these legacies are difficult to overcome they should not be used as an excuse or shield from criticism when evaluating present-day circumstances. While some progress has been made since independence was attained by most African countries over fifty years ago, such as improved economic development indicators (Remmer 2008) , there are still major issues like poverty, inequality and environmental degradation that must be addressed within each nation. As a result it is necessary for African leaders to take responsibility for dealing with these issues without relying on blaming colonialism as an excuse or justification for inaction.
“Africans can no longer blame colonialism as an excuse to explain their political and economic problems.” Respond as an expert on Africa
Furthermore there have been positive developments throughout Africa particularly over the past decade where the continent’s economies have grown more rapidly than those in other regions (Commission 2016). This suggests there has been a shift away from simply attributing all difficulties experienced in Africa to former colonization efforts; instead attention has shifted towards recognizing internal dynamics such as domestic policies which can spur further improvements into social welfare outcomes (Miguel 2004). This requires stronger governance systems which address underlying causes rather than merely pointing fingers at past injustices.
In addition external influences remain strong determinants of success despite being outside direct government control. For example foreign aid plays a significant role in development financing which may be utilized by both public sector actors or private investors depending on available incentives (Okolski 2015). It is also necessary for African countries to leverage international partnerships through trade opportunities and shared initiatives like regional integration programs (Todaro & Smith 2006) . In summary then while recognizing the continuing legacies caused by colonialism we must move beyond simplistic explanations if lasting solutions are sought after going forward.