A Grassroots Developmental Strategy for Africa: Towns as Agents of Growth Through Financial Credit

Since independence, governmental leaders in Africa have not pursued the policy option of making towns, represented as incorporated units, borrowers of commercial credit. To improve the quality of life among rural populations, governments in Africa should pursue the development strategy of making financial credit available to the towns located in those communities, because there is a high distribution of managerial expertise and material resources among the population. This article considers how African governments may adopt a development strategy that will encourage towns to borrow financial credit to engage in various economic and social activities, just like private companies. If these activities become viable, they may be a useful start in reversing the deterioration in economic and social well-being that several rural communities in Africa have suffered.