The world is not out of the woods yet as far as financial constraints are concerned. The losses incurred from Iceland’s volcanic ash are yet to be recouped. Greece is on its knees. Britain’s new coalition government has cut down its own pay by 5% as a step towards bringing down the country’s record budget deficit that is forecasted to reach £163 billion this year.

Africa must not operate on the business-as-usual mode as its hard-pressed external supporters may not meet their obligations for the continent. Over 60% of majority of Africa’s civil society budgets are financed by western entities. The same can be said of African states majority of who have over 40% of their budgets externally financed. While this happens, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa observes, corruption absorbs up to 30 per cent of most African countries' Gross Domestic Product and the continent looses $148 billion a year.

Perpetuating the "hyena culture" that is fixated on looting; lavish expenditure on political elites; collaborating with those who plunder Africa; not pushing for productivity will plunge the continent into an economic abyss. Africa must read the signs of the times and like China, prevail on its technocrats to lead the way in crafting an African-oriented economic paradigm that will weather the global storms.