FOREIGN AID AND LOCAL LEADERSHIP IN CAMEROON

Abstract

ABSTRACT Over five decades, the world has spent more than 2.3 trillion USD in development aid. Governments blame poverty trap for their inability to develop and fail to address the leadership deficit. The essence of this research therefore is to investigate about the relationship that exists between foreign aid local leadership in Cameroon. There are a number of arguments that I have put forth. First of all, foreign aid finances bad governments and encourages bad leadership. Second, foreign aid will never solve the long-term problems of poverty stricken countries. These nations have to be bold enough to embark on their own autonomous indigenous forms of development taking into cognition their local challenges for there to be a sustainable development. I have also explained that the leadership deficit suffered by most developing countries, Cameroon in particular needs a prompt attention and response. In fact the leadership deficit is at the root of the poverty trap in Cameroon. Finally, I have demonstrated by means of a case study that the structural changes needed for economic and social advancement in Cameroon must come from a well designed program of partnership between local councils and their communities. Thus I advocate for a bottom-up (grassroots) approach of leadership where the local communities will be part and parcel of their development project.