Madam - It was heartening to read Bryan Mukandi's views on aid for Africa (Opinion, March 26th). He is perfectly right in calling for a radical rethink about how countries with developed economies such as Ireland support African nations in their struggle to emerge from the impact of centuries of colonial exploitation.
To be fair to the Irish Government, there is a similar analysis (even if this is not quite matched by the commitment of resources) behind the strategic framework for Irish Aid that has been developed over recent years.
This framework focuses on supporting the development of infrastructure in the receiving countries, thus enhancing the capability of national and local services to address development issues and respond to crisis induced food shortages.
Many non-governmental agencies, such as Trócaire, have been both visionary and committed in putting this analysis into operation on the ground.
Unfortunately, the same praise cannot be extended to all such agencies.
Bryan illustrates very clearly how the depiction of Africans as needy and dependent can undermine self-respect and stunt the motivation of people in these countries. Our own experience of post-colonial development demonstrates very clearly that these factors are a vital determinant in driving social progress and economic development.
It is therefore all the more perverse to listen to the continuous ranting of John O'Shea of Goal about bypassing governments in Africa on the basis of their levels of corruption. It is disingenuous to suggest that corruption is greater in Africa than elsewhere in the world. We have only to look at the many corrupt regimes in Europe and the Americas, not to mention the widespread corruption currently being exposed by the various tribunals at home, to discard that notion.
And what of the widespread governmental corruption which contributed to the destruction of New Orleans and the death and ruination of many of its poorest inhabitants?
We in the so-called developed world cannot claim any high moral ground in this respect.
I think it is time to name the John O'Shea line for what it is. It sees Africans as essentially flawed, unable to meet their own needs and incapable of organising their own relief and development.
It is blind to the impacts and cultural residue of the colonisation process, which many Irish missionaries promulgated, albeit with a view to being charitable.
It is an unfortunate fact that charitable or dependency approaches, by virtue of the inherent inequality in the relationship between giver and receiver, promote a debt of gratitude attitude amongst recipients of that charity.
One outcome of this is that it appears churlish or mean to be critical or begrudging of the aid that is received. As a result there is no critique and therefore no learning.
For that reason, it is indeed brave of Bryan Mukandi to offer
this informed perspective. Perhaps a parallel self-critique by John
O'Shea might also contribute to some more enlightened opinion being
offered in the future. - Yours, etc,
AIDEN LLOYD,
Sallins,
Co Kildare.