Have you heard the story about how generous the rich governments are to Africa and how proud that makes us all? This is false. The idea that we are aiding Africa is flawed; it is Africa that is aiding the rest of the world.

Africa is being drained of resources by the rest of the world. It is losing far more each year than it is gaining.

While to sub-Saharan Africa amounts to less than $30 billion per year, the continent is losing $192 billion aid annually in other resource flows, mainly to the same countries providing that aid.  This means African citizens are losing almost six and a half times what their countries receive in aid each year, or for every $100 given in aid, the African people give $640 back. This demands that we rethink our role in addressing poverty in Africa.

Wealthy countries benefit from many of Africa’s losses. Yet, we are led to believe that ‘aid’ from rich countries to the continent is a mark of generosity. This is a deception. It’s time for our  political leaders stop misrepresenting the world’s relationship with Africa and take action on the real causes of poverty.

For more information visit the Health Poverty Action website.