Veteran politician and PDOIS figure, Hon. Halifa Sallah, has called on Africans to shift from dependency to production, stressing that the continent’s greatest challenge is not lack of resources but what he describes as “the poverty of the mind”.
“Africa’s poverty is not poverty of resources, it is the poverty of the mind,” Sallah said while delivering a keynote address at a seminar organised by SUPDECO Banjul Campus under the theme: “Transformational Leadership and Strategic Innovation for Business Growth in The Gambia and Beyond.” The event was held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Hall on Saturday.
Addressing students, academics, entrepreneurs and business leaders, Sallah said Africa possesses the resources needed for development but continues to depend heavily on external support because of weak strategic planning and limited investment in production.
“We must move from dependency to production,” he said, adding that African countries should focus on building industries, strengthening agriculture and investing in scientific knowledge to solve local challenges.
According to him, the continent has enough land, water and human resources to feed itself and create employment opportunities for its growing population.
“We are still importing the rice we need to survive. The water is there, the land is there, everything is there,” he told participants.
Sallah stresses that transformational leadership requires cooperation and collective responsibility, noting that development cannot be achieved by isolated individuals but through people working together for the common good.
“The 21st century is demanding cooperative leadership where everybody participates in shaping the destiny of countries, continents and the world,” he said.
He further emphasises the importance of education and research, arguing that universities and training institutions must become centres for innovation and practical solutions to societal problems.
The veteran politician urged young people to place knowledge at the centre of their ambitions, saying development begins with understanding oneself, society and the wider world.
He also called for entrepreneurship that promotes sustainability and national development rather than focusing only on profit-making.
“When you see yourself as a business person, do not only think about making millions. See yourself as a producer contributing to society,” he stated.
Sallah advocates for stronger African economic cooperation and the establishment of financial institutions capable of supporting development projects across the continent without overreliance on foreign investors.
“Africa is producing oil, gold and diamonds, yet we still depend on outsiders to finance our development,” he wonders.
Concluding his address, Sallah urges Africans to rethink development strategies and embrace innovation, production and self-reliance as the foundation for future progress.
