Berna Namata
12 November 2009
Kigali — African countries will have to continue pursuing regional integration if they are to cut costs across all aspects of infrastructure, the World Bank said in a latest report on Africa's Infrastructure.
The bank says that through regional collaboration African states can minimize costs of putting up ICT, power, ports and airport projects leading to economies of scale as a result of a reduction in the cost of service.
The report dubbed "Africa's Infrastructure: A Time for Transformation" from a study conducted in 24 African economies including Rwanda, indicates that the high cost of infrastructure services in the region is partly attributable to disconnected national boundaries.
"Most African countries are simply too small to develop infrastructure cost-effectively on their own. In ICTs, regional collaboration in continental fiber-optic submarine cables can reduce Internet and international call charges by half, relative to national reliance on satellite communications," the report to be launched today in Johannesburg, South Africa reads in part.
It also states that 21 countries have national power systems below the minimum efficient scale of a single plant.
"By sharing large-scale, cost-effective energy resources across countries, regional trade can reduce electricity costs by $2b (Rwf1.1trillion) a year," the report says, adding that traffic flows to most of Africa's national ports and airports are too low to provide the scale economies needed to attract services from major international shipping companies and airlines.
It is estimated that the poor state of infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa cuts national economic growth by 2 percentage points every year and reduces business productivity by as much as 40 percent.
According to the World Bank, road and rail corridors need to be managed collaboratively to smooth transport and trade services to Africa's 15 landlocked countries, avoiding the extensive border delays that slow international road freight to 10 kilometers an hour.
The report argues that well functioning infrastructure is essential to Africa's economic performance and that improving inefficiencies and reducing waste could result in major improvements in African's lives.
The bank estimates that over the next decade Africa will need some $93billion (Rwf53trillion) annually to finance its infrastructure. This is more than two folds increase on the previous estimates.
Almost half of this amount is needed to address the continent's current power supply crisis that is hindering Africa's growth.
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Ghana has been and still is part of the Gold Coast. There is more than enough resources in Ghana to make the country thrive. Our leaders have to fight for us and rely on God ; not those rich demon-influenced people who hide in the darkness of their souls.
We are still being robbed under the guise of aid. Stop giving away our resources. Develop them, process them ourselves.
Daniel 11: 14 And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the ROBBERS of your people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall.
Slavery from the Portuguese 1442 to the present has been down-played and turned into other forms of Slavery
(The Berlin Conference 1884-1885) – 14 European Countries , Turkey & The U. S. are still reaping the benefits of their arrogant decision to dived Black Africa among themselves.
In modern countries, their are toilets inside , that we can flush. The waste goes to a sewage treatment center. We also have water treatment centers. Ghana needs infrastructure. Pray for each other, help each other, pray for our leaders.
As Marcus Garvey said (I paraphrase) "Uplift Da Race ! "
[This inspiring poem was featuring in the movie “Coach Carter ”]
Our Deepest Fear Is Not That We Are Inadequate, Our Deepest Fear Is That We Are Powerful Beyond Measure. It Is Our Light , Not Our Darkness That Most Frightens Us.
We Ask Ourselves, Who Am I To Be Brilliant, Gorgeous, Talented, And Fabulous ?
Actually Who Are We Not To Be ? You Are A Child Of God.
Your Playing Small Doesn’t Serve The World.
There Is Nothing Enlightened About Shrinking So That Other People Won’t Feel Insecure Around You.
We Are All Meant To Shine, As Children Do.
We Were Born To Make Manifest The Glory Of God That Is Within Us.
It’s Not Just In Some Of Us; It’s In Everyone.
And When We Let Our Own Light Shine We Unconsciously Give Other People Permission To Do The Same.
And As We Are Liberated From Our Own Fear, Our Presence Automatically Liberates Others
- Marianne Williamson -
[NOTE – BEING AFRAID AND REFUSING TO GET INVOLVED WON’T STOP US FROM DYING. BUT BEING AFRAID CAN PREVENT US FROM LIVING]
(Nkosi Sikeleli Africa )
God bless Africa May her glory be lifted high Hear our petitions .
God bless us, Your children God we ask You to protect our nation Intervene and end all conflicts Protect us, protect our nation, our nation.
From the blue of our heaven, From the depths of our sea, Over our eternal mountain ranges, Where the cliffs give answer.
Sounds the call to come together, And united we shall stand, Let us live and strive for freedom, In South Africa our land.
[Enoch Mankayi Sontonga]
[ www.libradio.net ]
[gcnlive.com]
WAKE UP ! STAY UP MY BROTHERS & SISTERS ! BE SELF-SUFFICIENT IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
- Life Is a Game. Have Fun. [ Luke 18:17 / Isaiah 11:6 ]
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