Since setting foot in this cross-continental country, I have heard many prejudices and stereotypes about Africa and Africans from Turks, many, if not all, of whom have never set foot on the continent, let alone seen or engaged an African. Like most of their fellow Europeans, Turks’ perception of Africans is that “Africans are far lesser humans who lack guts and purpose and can be bought at anytime, by anyone on the cheap.”

The main themes of these deep-seated myths or biases include: Crimes, Corruption, Diseases and Poverty. The facts never mentioned, are negative residual policies that evolved from Europe’s colonization of Africa. It is never considered that such is responsible for crime, corruption, diseases and poverty in Africa. They have made Africans dependent on Europe through ‘globalization’ or ‘neo-colonialism’. They are continuously partnering with African dictators on ideas meant to rip-off the continent.

Also, the failure of our governments to ensure that state resources trickle down to all, including those in the most obscured villages, and not allow just a handful of cronies who possess extraordinary power to dictate who gets what, when and how, has made Africans and Africa a source of ridicule. But guess what, most of these corrupt leaders, beginning with Mobutu in Zaire to recently deposed Ben Ali of Tunisia, store their stolen wealth in European countries while in power. The whereabouts of these stolen funds are only known to the corrupt leader and his partners. And so, at death or dethronement, the wealth immediately adds to what Europe had already stolen from Africa decades ago; first as ‘raiders’ [under the pretext of traders] on the African coast and then as colonialists.

I recently overheard a conversation involving two Turkish folks. The main theme of their conversation was on African governments and beaches. One of the Turkish folks, a former resident of Senegal and Ivory Coast, was questioned by his friend about Africa resorts. In his response, he said apart from the few hotels built by foreign investors, the rest of Africa’s beaches were filled with filths. His friend further inquired as to whether there were wealthy Africans, like Turkish, to erect fabulous seaside resorts. His response to this question was: “Sahil Çok Pis, Deniz Kültürü Yok ve Afrika’nın Hepsi Böyle. Hükümetler sadece Ceplerine Çalışıyorlar”, meaning “the beaches are very filthy. There is no sea-culture and the entire Africa is like that. The governments only work to fill their pockets.”

My blood boils whenever I hear such sayings about Africa and Africans. However, the statement by this Turkish fellow reflected none else but the truth. My heart sinks when I think of how Africans are being robbed off their dignity and integrity by so-called wealth-seekers calling themselves leaders of the continent.

A classic example was a story reported by the Daily Observer in which we were informed that Monrovia City Mayor Mary Tanyonoh Broh was overpowered by stench emanating from beaches in the New Kru Town community on Bushrod Island, Monrovia. In that article, Mayor Broh admitted that our beaches--- significant assets in attracting tourists, were filthy, depriving the country of accessing millions in tourism.

A need to keep our beaches tidy cannot be overemphasized. Unfortunately, those inhabiting our beaches are mostly squatters --- formerly internally displaced persons --- by-products of the civil crisis --- who have refused to return to their places of origin in rural Liberia. In these squatters’ communities, residents lack basic social amenities such as public latrines. As a result, they have resorted to lining up our beaches with wastes.

On the corruption front, former President [William V.S.] Tubman’s mansions in Harper and Congo Town respectively, the elaborate Bentol residence of former President [William R.] Tolbert, [Samuel K.] Doe’s fortress in Zwedru and homes in Tuzon, [Charles] Taylor’s Congo Town palace, Benoni Urey’s Careysburg castle, to mention just a few, were all structures erected with funds scooped by these leaders from state coffers. I will stop here for now. The struggle continues……