African Business Leaders are Failing Africa

Despite the gloomy news about Africa in the international media, the fact is that the continent is experiencing growth, and businesses are reaping big, never mind some instabilities in some places. The African stock markets and exchanges are giving more returns to their shareholders, and generally, the business climate is improving. Companies, especially consumer goods companies, minerals and oil companies, banks and financial services firms, and telecommunication companies are making huge sums of money in the continent. These companies are driving the growth story of Africa. They are the reason behind the 'Africa Rising Narrative', and are one of the reasons why Africa is home to six of the ten fastest growing economies in the world.

African CEOs and business leaders could shape the destiny of the continent in many ways. They are the ones
who are at the pulse to know what it means to do business in Africa. In the annual World Bank ease of doing business rankings, only Rwanda, Botswana, and Mauritius feature highly in the world. Business leaders are therefore not happy with the climate for doing business in Africa. And yet, they have remained eerily silent on many issues. This is unlike elsewhere in the world, where business leaders in fact determine who the President in a country is going to be. While business leaders can introduce all the brilliant and innovative products and services in the world, their efforts would amount to naught if the political climate remains unstable. Politics and economics are inextricably linked, and businesses in Africa cannot flourish if the political climate is unstable. It's why business leaders in Africa must get concerned of the future of their continent, and ensure that friendly business policies are put in place. It's as simple as that.