Economic and social inequality is the main problem of West African society. In front of
the increase in wealth disparities, the NGO Oxfam invites the States of the region to strengthen their systems
education, health and taxation.
“Inequality has reached extreme levels in West Africa. Today, the top 1% of the rich
West Africans earn more than the entire population of the continent", is the conclusion of the new
report published by Oxfam and Développement France international.
Entitled "West Africa Inequality Crisis" in Africa, 60% of
very rapidly growing economies are found in West Africa, particularly in Côte d'Ivoire,
in Ghana and Senegal. However, "in most countries, the benefits of this growth
benefit only a very small number of people,” the report points out. In Nigeria, for example,
For example, the combined fortunes of the five richest Nigerians amount to $29.9 billion, or
more than the country's entire budget in 2017. The vast majority of West Africans saw themselves
"to deny the essential conditions of a dignified existence, such as quality education, health care
health and decent jobs". While West Africa suffers from the highest rate of inequality in
continent, the fifteen countries studied "choose to ignore the inequality crisis rather than solve it",
regret the report. And “Instead of fighting inequality, some governments in the region have
underfunded public services, such as health and education, and failed to tackle the
corruption," said Oxfam regional director Adama Coulibaly.
The report calls on governments to do more to promote progressive taxation,
increase social spending, strengthen labor market protection, invest in agriculture and
strengthen the land rights of smallholders. "Poverty is not a fatality", say the authors
of the report. However, governments do not fight inequality in the same way. Cape Verde,
Mauritania and Senegal are among the most committed to reducing inequality, while Nigeria,
Niger and Sierra Leone are among the least engaged.