Trump’s Potential Return a Wake-Up Call for African Self-Reliance – David Ofosu-Dorte
David Ofosu-Dorte, Senior Partner at AB & David Africa, has urged African nations to use the possible return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency as an opportunity to shift away from dependency on foreign aid and focus on self-reliance.
Speaking on Citi FM’s Citi Breakfast Show with Bernard Avle, Ofosu-Dorte highlighted Trump’s decision to significantly cut funding to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the broader consequences for Africa.
He pointed out that Trump’s foreign policy, particularly towards Africa, has been marked by indifference, and that African countries must take proactive steps to secure their economic future.
Trump’s previous administration slashed funding for multiple foreign aid programs, including those focused on health, education, food security, and governance. The cuts directly impacted several initiatives across the continent, including a $613 million reduction in aid to South Africa due to disputes over land redistribution policies.
“This is an opportunity for us to take charge of what is important to us,” Ofosu-Dorte stated. “Trump doesn’t care about Africa, and he didn’t even invite African leaders to his inauguration.”
He emphasized that Africa must learn from such policies and work toward economic sustainability, warning that reliance on foreign assistance is not a long-term solution.
“The amount of money he is taking away from South Africa alone should tell us that Africa must realise there are things we need to do for ourselves,” he added.
With Trump potentially returning to office, Ofosu-Dorte stressed that African leaders must rethink their economic strategies and reduce dependency on external aid to secure the continent’s long-term growth and development.
