By Professor Douglas BOATENG
“Tell a man he is poor long enough, and he will stop looking for wealth.” Words are powerful. They shape beliefs, influence actions, and ultimately define destinies. In Africa, the persistent drumbeat of poverty has been played so loudly and for so long that it has become the continent’s background music.
The inconvenient truth is that this narrative, repeated in classrooms, boardrooms, and parliaments, has conditioned generations to accept poverty as a birthright. But it is not. Africa is not poor. Its resources, both human and natural, are among the richest in the world. What is poor is the narrative we continue to propagate, a narrative that stifles ambition, kills innovation, and traps the youth in cycles of low expectations. If we want to change the future, we must first change the story.
The power of narrative
“A child who grows up hearing he is worthless will one day believe it.” Africa’s youth are bombarded with messages of inadequacy. They are told that their continent is too dependent on aid, too riddled with corruption, and too backward to compete globally. While these challenges are real, they do not represent the full story.
Yet, they dominate headlines and political discourse, shaping perceptions both within and beyond Africa. When young Africans hear that their nations cannot survive without foreign aid, they internalise dependency.
When corruption saturates the narrative, dishonesty becomes normalised. When the story focuses on lack, the youth believe there are no opportunities, no growth, and no future. Narrative is not a minor force; it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. A mind conditioned to poverty plans for survival, not success. It hoards crumbs instead of building bakeries. People who believe they are poor make decisions rooted in scarcity, perpetuating the very cycle they seek to escape.
The Inconvenient Truth: Who benefits from this narrative?
“The one who controls the story controls the mind.” The narrative of African poverty did not emerge by accident. It serves the interests of those who profit from the continent’s resources, labour, and markets.
Aid organisations, for example, depend on the image of a struggling Africa to justify their existence. According to the OECD, over $51 billion in official development assistance flowed into Africa in 2022. Yet, much of this aid perpetuates dependency rather than building resilience.
Foreign corporations thrive on the undervaluation of African resources. They enter under the guise of investment, extracting immense wealth while leaving fragile economies in their wake.
Meanwhile, local elites, shielded by the distractions of survival, avoid real accountability and maintain systems that serve a few at the expense of many. When a lion believes it is a lamb, it will never rule the savannah. Likewise, when a continent believes it is dependent and weak, it cedes control to others.
Breaking free: Changing the story
Changing the narrative requires more than optimism. It demands deliberate action, courageous leadership, and a collective change in mindset. Africa must reject the mirror that reflects only inadequacy and polish the one that reflects its limitless potential.
With over 60% of Africa’s population under the age of 25, the youngest workforce globally, the continent possesses a demographic dividend that could fuel a new economic dawn if properly harnessed.
- Celebrate success stories – Africa is not a barren land of despair. It is fertile ground for innovation and resilience. From Kenya’s “Silicon Savannah” to South Africa’s renewable energy revolution, Africa is quietly scripting a new chapter. In Rwanda, a commitment to clean energy and technology has transformed Kigali into a model smart city. The country’s youth now see themselves as global players, not victims of circumstance. Highlighting such stories shifts perceptions from scarcity to possibility.
- Redefine education – “What you teach a child becomes their truth.” Education must move beyond rote learning to emphasise entrepreneurship, critical thinking, and creativity. In Ethiopia, aggressive investments in vocational education and linking skills to industry needs have drastically reduced youth unemployment. According to UNESCO, technical and vocational enrolment in Ethiopia increased by over 450% between 2000 and 2020, illustrating the transformative power of education that equips youth to create rather than wait.
- Encourage local solutions – Africa’s challenges require African solutions. Dependency narratives must give way to self-reliance and innovation. In Ghana, agritech startups like Farmerline and Agrocenta are revolutionising agriculture, improving productivity, and connecting farmers to markets. These innovations, led by young Africans, show what happens when the seeds of self-belief are watered.
- Demand accountable leadership – A critical shift in narrative demands that leaders serve, not exploit. Corruption, short-termism, and neglect have no place in a thriving Africa. The African Development Bank, the African Union, and the IMF, among others, estimate that corruption drains over $100 billion from the continent each year; funds that could be used to construct schools, roads, hospitals, and foster hope. Youth must demand transparency, integrity, and vision from their leaders. They must reject inheriting broken systems disguised as tradition.
The role of the youth
“The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.” Africa’s youth must stop waiting for miracles. They must see themselves not as victims of a broken system, but as architects of a new one. They must move from complaint to creation, from dependency to determination. They must write their own stories because if they do not, someone else will write them for them, which will not be flattering.
A warning – the danger of inaction
“If you do not write your story, someone else will write it for you.” The consequences of passivity are already visible. High unemployment, brain drain, and social unrest threaten to undermine Africa’s future. Without a deliberate change in narrative, the youth risk being trapped in a world that sees them only through the lens of pity or exploitation. Statistics present a sobering reality: According to the African Development Bank, of the nearly 420 million youth aged 15 to 35, one-third are unemployed and discouraged, another one-third are vulnerably employed, and only one in six is in wage employment. Without urgent change, this demographic advantage could become a demographic time bomb.
Examples of transformation
Transformation is possible. Other nations have done it, and so can Africa.
- South Korea: In the 1960s, South Korea’s GDP per capita was lower than that of Ghana. Today, it ranks among the world’s top economies. This transformation was driven by investments in education, technology, and youth empowerment.
- India: Once synonymous with poverty, India has rebranded itself as a global tech leader. Its youth, armed with skills and vision, reshaped national destiny.
- Rwanda: From genocide to global admiration, Rwanda proves that leadership, innovation, and a shift in mindset can change even the bleakest narrative.
These nations show that history is not destiny. Choices, vision, and action are what matter.
Conclusion: Writing a new chapter
“The pen that writes the story of a people must be held by their own hands.”
- Africa’s youth cannot afford to let others define their identity, capabilities, or future.
- The time to change the narrative is now.
- Africa is not poor. Her people are not powerless.
The poverty of the mind can be defeated by the wealth of vision, the richness of resilience, and the courage to believe beyond present circumstances.
- Let this be the generation that built monuments of prosperity where others expected ruins.
- Let this be the generation that turned the tale of poverty into a story of pride, progress, and unparalleled possibility.
>>>the writer is a globally celebrated thought leader, Chartered Director, industrial engineer, supply chain management expert, and social entrepreneur known for his transformative contributions to industrialisation, procurement, and strategic sourcing in developing nations.
As Africa’s first Professor Extraordinaire for Supply Chain Governance and Industrialization, he has advised governments, businesses, and policymakers, driving sustainability and growth. During his tenure as Chairman of the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) and Labadi Beach Hotel, he led these institutions to global recognition for innovation and operational excellence. He is also the past chairman of the Public Procurement Authority.
A prolific author of over 90 publications, he is the creator of NyansaKasa (Words of Wisdom), a thought-provoking platform with over one million daily readers. Through his visionary leadership, Professor Boateng continues to inspire ethical governance, innovation, and youth empowerment, driving Africa toward a sustainable and inclusive future.
