During the 1950s, Liberia boasted the world’s second-fastest-growing
economy. This was not surprising, given its abundance of natural
resources – iron, ore, timber, diamonds, gold and tin – as well as rich
vegetation. Today, after 14 years of civil war, Liberia is one of the
poorest nations in the world, with no running water, electricity,
decent public hospitals or schools. At least 85 per cent of the
country’s three million-strong population are without jobs and most
people are forced to live on less than $1 per day.
Since it’s incorporation in 1847, Africa’s oldest republic was ruled by
a clique of former Black slaves from America known as,
“Americo-Liberians.” Over the years, a kind of love-hate relationship
developed. Though indigenous Liberians resented being ruled by the
Americo-Liberian class, most Liberians thought of the United States as
its mother and Liberia as, “Little America.” The Liberian constitution
is modeled almost word for word after the American constitution. The
roots of Liberia’s civil war are a cumulative result of decades of
discrimination and neglect by this elite group who ruled the country
and denied the indigenous tribal groups the right to full political
participation and a fair share of the economic pie. Resentment against
Americo-Liberian rule exploded into the 1980 military coup led by
Samuel Doe, who became the country’s first indigenous president.
In 1989, I moved to Liberian and established the Sub-Saharan Gold and
Diamond Fund, an “Off Shore” Trading Company involved in buying Aluvial
Gold from local miners. I was living in Liberia on December 24th, 1989,
when the Charles Taylor lead forces came across the border from the
Ivory Coast and began their campaign to overthrow the regime of then
president, Samuel Doe. I was also there on September 10th, 1990 when
Prince Johnson, one of the breakaway factions of Charles Taylor,
captured Doe on Bushrod Island and where two days later, he was killed.
While attending a conference in New York in 2000, I had the pleasure of
meeting Ms. Sirleaf. I had learned about her work and how well
respected she was while living in Liberia. I wanted to meet her and
present her an autographed copy of my first book, “Doing Business In
Africa, Myths and Realities,” which was inspired by my experiences in
Liberia. Although our meeting was a brief one (about 45 minutes), She
was very gracious and I was most impressed with her calm and confident
demeanor and her sincere commitment to the economic progress of Africa.
The election of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as the first women president on
the continent of Africa is not only important for the people of
Liberia, but I believe will have a profound effect on the political
maturation of the entire continent. One way to break with the
traditions of “Chiefdom” politics in Africa and introduce new political
and economic institutions is via the emancipation of women. A strong
women’s movement, like a free press, is a good sign that modernization
is making headway in a country. South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki
said Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf's election is "a beacon of hope for women in
Africa and the world in general.”
The evidence is overwhelming. The more women are included as full
participants in politics and the economic development process through
education, entrepreneurship and access to capital, the more successful
a country is economically. I would add that in my experience, having
done business in several African countries, African women are also less
likely to be influenced by the culture of bribery, theft, and
corruption that is the accepted norm throughout the mostly male
dominated African governments. “We have shattered the glass ceiling
theory; and I hope women will seize the moment to become active in
civil and political affairs here at home and abroad,” says Ms. Sirleaf.
The new president has promised that her administration would ensure
that, “every Liberian, no matter where you come from, no matter what
religious, political party or ethnic group you belong to, will feel
proud to belong to this new Liberia. Never again in this nation shall a
person or a group of persons feel so excluded that they have to resort
to violence in the name of justice,” she added.
Ms. Sirleaf has held such prominent positions as minister of finance of
Liberia, president of the Liberia Bank for Development and Investment,
and senior loan officer of the World Bank. Ms. Johnson Sirleaf has
represented Liberia on the boards of the International Monetary Fund
and the African Development Bank. She also served five years as
assistant administrator and Director of The Regional Bureau for Africa
of the United Nations Development Program with the rank of Assistant
Secretary General of The United Nations.
Ms. Sirleaf founded and continues to support Measuagoon, a
community development organization with projects throughout Liberia.
She is the recipient of numerous international honors, including the
Grand Commander Star of Africa Redemption from Liberia (1980), the
Franklin D. Roosevelt Freedom of Speech Award from the United States
(1988), The Ralph Bunche International Leadership Award (OIC, USA –
1995), and Commandeur de l’Ordre du Mono from Togo (1996). She holds a
master of public administration degree from the Kennedy School of
Government at Harvard University.
Ms. Sirleaf’s international credibility puts her in good stead as she
embarks on the mammoth task of rebuilding her country. She’s a known
and respected entity, which will give her immediate access to
international agencies and funds. She will need time and the
cooperation of Liberia’s different ethnic groups to heal the wounds
inflicted on the country after 15 years of civil war.
But one of the most important factors in successful economic growth is
the motivated and creative entrepreneur. Successful economies are
entrepreneur driven. Throughout Africa, there is a growing realization
that it is a mistake to think governments can deliver jobs and economic
prosperity to more than a few politicians and their friends. In
addition to instituting a massive education program with some focus on
engineering and science, a “culture of entrepreneurship” must be
nurtured and encouraged. A “Culture of Entrepreneurship” is one in
which the desire to become an entrepreneur is a laudable goal and is
supported by family, friends, and government policies.
When I lived in Liberia, foreigners, mostly Lebanese, dominated much of
the local economy. Locally owned Liberian businesses were mostly
regulated to “mom and pop” type shops and the open market businesses
operated by Liberian women. As in many African countries, the road to
economic wealth was through control of government resources. To break
away from this destructive perception, Liberia will have to create an
atmosphere that promotes indigenous entrepreneur development and full
participation in the economy. Liberia’s national success in
entrepreneurial development will depend on the evolution on local
entrepreneurs and national support (finance and training)
infrastructure. Ms. Sirleaf has a long history of successfully creating
and obtaining financing for these types of programs. We not only wish
her well, but will be making whatever contribution we can to help that
country get back on its feet.
- Thinking Globally
- Ron Watkins, Founder and Publisher
- PH: 773-768-5757; Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Mr. Watkins has been featured in Crain’s Chicago Business, The Chicago Tribune, The Network Journal Magazine, The Weekly Standard, The Chicago Defender, and The Wall Street Journal. He has also appeared on several local radio and television talk shows. He has taught International Business in the City College system and has organized several seminars on trade and investment with Africa and the Caribbean. In 2006, he completed the manuscript for his second book, “Thinking Globally, Black Economic Development In The New World Order.”
