AMERICA'S LEADING MAGAZINE <ffflHOR ON AFRICA $4 WORT MARCH-APRIL 1984 CEUTA MELILLA me GAMMA Ban|ul ~ GUINEA GUINEA BISSAUfConakry Bissau Freetown SUMA LEONE CENTRAL AFRICAN Monrovia REPUBLIC CAMEROON 1 Bang,., MAURITIUS 0 Port Louis LESOTHO Maseru Copyright © 1984 by the African-American Institute, Inc. MARCH-APRIL 1984 AMERICAS VOLUME 29, NUMBER 2 LEADING MAGAZINE ON AFRICA A Publication of the VREPORT African-American Institute The African-American Institute Interview Chairman Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings, George N. Lindsay Chairman of the Provisional National Defense Council, Ghana President Donald B. Easum Interviewed by Margaret A. Novicki Nigeria The Coup and the Future Publisher By Larry Diamond Frank E. Ferrari Editor Upper Volta Margaret A. Novicki Six Months into Sankara's Revolution 16 Assistant Editor By Howard Schissel Michael Maren Editorial Assistant Jason Zweig Ivory Coast Editorial Secretary Hard Times for an African Alana Lee Success Story 20 Interns By George McFarlane George N. Archer Savona Bailey-McClain Letter from Kampala Uganda's Security Nightmare 24 By Rick Wells Circulation. Subscriptions, Ad- IN THIS ISSUE vertising, Management, and Pro- African Update 27 duction Services by Transaction 1984 began with international attention fo- Editor: Michael Maren Periodicals Consortium: cused on Nigeria in the aftermath of its New Assistant Editor: Jason Zweig Year's military coup. This issue of Africa Report Editors takes a look at recent political and economic Researcher: Stephen Adkisson Alex Fundock III trends and events in West Africa — a region that George P. Bassett has undergone some fundamental changes over Guinea the past two years- Sekou Toure's Ouverture Art Governmental corruption and economic de- 43 Dena Leiter cline were the seeds that sowed the 1979 and By Justin Mendy Scott E. Pringle 1981 coups led by Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings of Ghana, the August 1982 coup in In Washington Upper Volta, and the return of the military in Ni- Southern Africa: An Issue in '84? geria. Africa Report editor Margaret A. Novicki 47 Alnca Report (ISSN 0001-9836), a By John de St. Jorre nonpartisan magazine ol African talks to Flight Lieutenant Rawlings about the affairs, is published bimonlhty in situation in Ghana and the region just after the January-February, March-April. second anniversary ol his 1981 takeover. Larry Economic Analysis May-June. July-August, Septem- Diamond analyzes the causes behind the Nige- The Search for a Growth Strategy ber-October, and November-De- rian coup and offers an assessment ot the tasks 50 cember, and is scheduled to ap- for Africa pear at the beginning of each date ahead for Maj. Gen. Buhan. Howard Schissel penod at 833 United Nations examines Capt. Thomas Sankara's coup in By Carol Lancaster Plaza, New York, N.Y. 10017. Ed- Upper Volta, and George McFarlane and Justin itorial correspondence and letters Mendy look at the tough economic times in Ivory to the Publisher should be sent to Coast and Guinea, respectively. At the United Nations this address. Correspondence From East Africa, Rick Wells reports on the Africa and the U.S. at Odds 54 regarding subscriptions, distribu- tion, advertising, and other busi- latest efforts ol Ugandan President Obote to win By Monique Rubens ness matters should be sent to international confidence in the face of deteri- Transaction Periodicals Consor- orating security. Namibia is the topic ol two Namibia tium, Dept. 8010. Rutgers Uni- analyses: Barry Streek explains why prospects versity, New Brunswick, New Jer- lor a settlement appear slim when South African South Africa's Stakes in 57 sey 08903. Telephone: (201) perceptions of its stakes in the conflict are con- the Border War 932-2280. Subscription rates: In- sidered, and John Seiler, recently returned from dividuals: U.S.A. $21, Canada By Barry Streek $27. air rate overseas $45. Insti- Namibia, provides an assessment of the situa- tutions: U.S.A. $28, Canada $34. tion inside the country and what the American air rate overseas $52. Second- response should be. Opinion class postage paid at New York. In our In Washington and At the United Na- Policy Options in Namibia 61 N.Y. and at additional mailing of- tions columns. John de St. Jorre explains the By John Seiler fices, POSTMASTER If this maga- rote African issues are playing in the American zine is undeliverable. please send presidential campaigns, and Momque Rubens notice to Africa Report, Transac- 64 tion Periodicals Consortium (ad- provides a wrap-up of African issues and the Books dress above]. Telephones: Pub- U.S. role during last fall's United Nations Gen- lisher (212) 949-5717. Editor eral Assembly session. And Carol Lancaster (212) 949-5731. Copyright ic. analyzes why strategies for Africa's economic Photo Credit 1984 by the African-American In- growth have failed and concludes with some The cover photo of Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings of Ghana was stitute. Inc. recommendations for U.S. policy. taken by Genevieve Chauvel/Sygma. INTERVIEW Fit. Lt. Jerry Rawlings, Chairman of the Provisional National Defense Council, Ghana INTERVIEWED BY MARGARET A. NOVICKI Fit. Lt. Rawlings exhorting workers at Takoradi: "In the last analysis, Ghana's economic recovery depends much more on the productivity of our people" AFRICA REPORT: Could you provide an assessment of bushfires, which did considerable damage too: the low level your government's two-year record, highlighting both those of the Volta Lake, which has brought about the need lor areas where you feel it has registered its most concrete power cuts; and the effects of absorbing over one million achievements and where its shortcomings have been? Ghanaian returnees from Nigeria. RAWLINGS: At the end of 1981, Ghana was like a runa- And yet they have faced these hardships with hope and way train, rushing downhill towards a broken bridge. The some cheerfulness. And I think this is our most important economy and the moral liber of the people appeared to have achievement—the restoration of hope and confidence even reached a point of no return. We have however been able to in the face of material hardships. apply the brakes and gradually bring the train to a halt, and Our shortcomings have been in the same area of attitudes, we have started repairing the bridge. It is only when this is rather than in material things. Some sections of the commu- done that the train can cross the bridge and begin climbing the nity have been unnecessarily alienated by the actions of hill on the other side. people unused to the responsible use of power, but we have Now for the ordinary people, this means that they have learned from these mistakes over the past two years. A gen- seen very little in the way of material improvements in their eral positive feeling is being generated. daily lives. Indeed, they face increased hardships caused by AFRICA REPORT: You inherited an economy on the the drought, which has severely affected the 1983 harvests brink of bankruptcy, and over the last year you have intro- despite all the efforts they put into it; the effects of the duced an austerity budget, a three-year recovery plan, and a AFRICA REPORT • March-April 1984 devaluation of the cedi, in response to which you have won those here. But the people know that they are not suffering a substantial International Monetary Fund [IMF] loan and to make a corrupt government rich at all. We are all suffer- pledges of Western finance. Could you describe your gov- ing in order to concentrate all our resources on the building ernment's economic program, pointing out the priority sec- of a just and prosperous society. tors, and comment on whether you think these measures AFRICA REPORT: You have been critical of the "IMF will be sufficient to pull Ghana out of its economic morass? solution" to Third World economic problems. What caused Will these programs not further your dependence on West- you to change your course and go to the IMF? Do you think ern finance? the IMF agreement and the results of the Paris donor confer- RAWLINGS: In the last analysis, Ghana's economic re- ence indicate a change in perceptions on the part of the West covery depends much more upon the productivity of our toward your government? If so, what caused them to alter people. Without hard work and a substantial effort to pro- their attitudes? duce more, no amount of economic plans, fiscal measures, RAWLINGS: In order to turn our economy around, an in- or external financing can do more than provide temporary jection of capita! was essential. I have been critical, as have relief. many other people in the Third World, of inappropriate aid, Now there is something we ought to get straight. The real of restrictive conditions imposed on countries needing aid, devaluation had been taking place over the years and the and of aid that addicts the recipient countries to more and measures we have taken are simply a question of facing up more aid. I have not changed these opinions. to the reality. What we are trying to do is to restore and re- Ghana did not accept an aid package on terms dictated by vive those sectors of the economy that will enable us to the World Bank or the IMF. We worked out our own pro- stand on our own feet. The transport system is being re- posals, presented them, and argued out our case. The fact habilitated. Mining, timber, agriculture, and industry—all that they accepted our argument is an indication that we had those sectors with which we can either provide our own shown responsible management and the courage and deter- needs or increase our foreign exchange earnings are our mination to go through with such a realistic program of eco- areas of priority.