The roots of inequality: Mining profits soar, but Africans are still poor

Profits have ballooned in recent years, but African states haven’t seen their fair share. It’s time to look beyond the woefully inadequate compensation of voluntary corporate social responsibility actions by mining firms in Africa.

By Yao Graham

Published Nov 14, 2011 8:04 PM

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To the Editor

Wikimedia Photo: Per Arne Wilson

Very little of the additional income and profits of mining firms in recent years has gone to the mineral exporting African countries in which they work.

In 2009, African heads of state adopted the African Mining Vision. Its key objective is the transformation of Africa’s mining sector into a catalyst of broad-based growth and development and a key component of a diversified, vibrant and globally competitive, industrializing African economy.

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