Realities confronting German and African Youth in an Globalized World
Ghana By Coretta Maame Panyin Jonah, 2010
19.8.2010
When a handball by Uruguayan striker Suarez, prevented a winning goal and the following penalty squandered in the final minute denying Africans the opportunity of playing in their first ever World Cup semi-final and Spain also ensured that Germany was denied the opportunity of playing in the World Cup finals for the second time in a row, both "Go Germans" and "Go Africans" got to see it at the same time and shared the disappointments together. The same is true when a roadside bomb goes off in Afghanistan or a suicide bomber strikes in the market place of Baghdad. When financial downturn occurs in the West, the people of Africa are not spared the consequences. Poverty and disillusionment drives many young, intelligent and able-bodied Africans to migrate to Germany and other European countries, sometimes under very traumatizing conditions. Therefore the youth of Africa and the youth of Germany and the West at large may face similar realities though there are considerable differences. There are realities that may be common to them and others that face one but must be of concern to the other. The future of the youth of Germany and Africa are inextricably intertwined. We must face challenges and seize opportunities together.
The global financial crisis has brought joblessness and despair to the youth all over the world. The effect on the youth in raw-material exporting African countries has been equally painful, for, without a strong demand for African exports, foreign exchange earnings inevitably dwindle and basic services are adversely affected. When rich countries face economic crisis, aid, trade and investment flow to Africa are also reduced. The financial crisis in the developed countries can directly affect health, education and potable water supply in developing countries. Long before the financial crisis, the flow of aid, trade and investment to Africa was grossly inadequate and the advent of the financial crisis has worsened the situation, and put the full attainment of the Millennium Development Goals in most African countries is in jeopardy. Aid, trade and investment will generate the resources needed to increase education, improve health and bring prosperity to African youth. Above all it will stem the tide of illegal immigration to Europe. For recent University graduates in developed countries in general and in Germany in particular, the recent financial crises have had big impact on employment. Of the world's estimated 211 million unemployed people in 2009, nearly 40 per cent–or about 83 million–were between 15 and 24 years of age (ILO, Global Employment Trends, January 2010).
In Germany, the crisis has only made worse the already precarious nature of youth employment. By the very fact that young people are less experienced in the job market compared to older people, they are more likely to be employed in temporary jobs and those who gain full time employment start on very low salaries. The large and growing immigrant population particularly bears a disproportionate share of these problems. As in most countries there are significant differences, between the East and West.
The youth of Africa are trapped between the state and the market. Before the economic reforms of the 1980´s, African economies were predominantly state-owned and state-controlled. Employment and remuneration were not based on market considerations but on political calculations only. Economic liberalization and privatization accompanying the reforms have altered the equation. The private sector is now the engine of growth and the major source of employment. While the market has not yet fully matured to absorb most of the youths in search of employment, the state is compelled to cut down its absorption of the employment searching youths. They are trapped between the state and the market and have nowhere to turn but the informal sector where cut-throat competition and low incomes are the norm. The case in Germany is the exact opposite as the private sector is traditionally vibrant and the main catalyst for growth in the economy.
The African youth face a political reality which may be alien to their German counterparts; the need for a clean and accountable government that creates opportunities for all of its citizens particularly the young, innovative and ambitious. A corrupt and non-accountable government not only fails to provide this environment but also spreads poverty, kills initiative and blocks opportunity for the majority and worst of all, breeds a lack of trust in leadership. No amount of aid from development partners can bring prosperity and well-being to Africans if governments remain corrupt and non-accountable. An increasing number of African governments are now directly elected by their own people and in most cases have to seek re-election. On the positive side, politicians are more accountable than before. However, the electoral process has not been devoid of the corruption culture putting the integrity of most elections in doubt.
In extreme cases, election disputes that arise from a corrupted process leads to violence as witnessed in Kenya in 2008 and Ivory Coast, once the beacons of stability and democracy in Africa. In Germany, young people have been active in the political process championing the ideals of combating the negative effects of global warming, discrimination and the rising inequality between the developed and developing countries. Africans can learn from their German counterparts and be more active in the electoral process, not just being tools for mischief by political leaders but to set the agenda. This is particularly critical since most African countries demographically can be described as youthful. In West Africa for example, 70% of the population is below the age of 30.
