Brain-Draining Africa

Relevant Aspects of the Issue

Abstract

At the time of independence, indigenous Africans were marginalized in public administration positions—it was not in the colonial administrations’ interest to have educated Africans around them for a long time, not to mention their attitude stemming from the principle of European superiority (hubris). The French-speaking African territories were in a slightly better position than the areas managed by the British, so it came as no surprise that the new political leadership of independent Ghana immediately recruited 60% of its officials from Africans, as early as March 1957. All new leaders agreed with the principle, which was extended to the entire continent: the public administration must be “Africanized” without delay.