PHOTO: PROSA Chairman, Godwin Tarnue
BY ARUNA GOEPOGUI
The Chairman of the Process Students Alliance of the University of Liberia (PROSA), Godwin Tarnue, has attributed Africa’s persistent poverty to poor leadership and the failure of citizens to elect leaders who prioritize national development.
Speaking at the Paynesville City Hall, Tarnue said many African countries remain poor despite being endowed with abundant natural resources, arguing that the continent’s development challenges are largely linked to the leadership choices made by citizens.
He alleged that some African leaders have placed personal interests above the welfare of their citizens, using public resources to enrich themselves rather than investing in critical sectors, including education and other public services.
The PROSA chairman further claimed that many public schools across Africa continue to face inadequate government funding, while resources that could be used to improve the lives of citizens are allegedly diverted for private benefit.
He said Liberia, in particular, is endowed with sufficient natural resources to support its citizens for generations if properly managed. However, he noted that widespread poverty and hardship persist because of what he described as corruption and the mismanagement of public resources.
According to him, Africa is a richest continent, but he argued that the continent’s development is being hindered by what he described as a poverty of mindset among some of its citizens.
Tarnu called on Africans to change their attitudes toward elections and leadership, stressing that the choices citizens make during elections have a direct impact on governance, development, and their living conditions.