Liberia: Bursting the Bubble of Natural Resource Expectations

Jun 19, 2014 | Luke Balleny, Thomson Reuters Foundation
View Original

After oil was found off Ghana’s southwest coast in 2007, John Atta Mills, former president of Ghana is said to have proclaimed, “We will use those resources so that you will be able to do whatever you want, and indeed, you can live in reasonable comfort.”

Now imagine that you’re an impoverished Ghanaian with no running water or electricity and every day is a struggle. How would you feel after hearing your president say that? Somewhere between hopeful and ecstatic is probably the answer, and therein lies the problem.

When expectations are inflated, whether purposefully or by mistake, the inevitable bursting of the bubble can lead to cynicism, anger and even conflict.