Africa wealth

Africa is rich in natural resources ranging from arable land, water, oil, natural gas, minerals, forests and wildlife. The continent holds a huge proportion of the world’s natural resources, both renewables and non-renewables. However, Africa’s two most profitable mineral resources are gold and diamonds. In 2008, Africa produced about 483 tons of gold, or 22 percent of the world’s total production. South Africa accounts for almost half of Africa’s gold production. Ghana, Guinea, Mali, and Tanzania are other major producers of gold.

According to a report by Energy Capital & Power, the biggest gold producing countries in Africa are:

Ghana: 117.6 tons

South Africa: 100 tons

Sudan: 93 tons

Mali: 63.4 tons

Burkina Faso: 45 tons

South Africa is one of the world’s largest producers of diamonds. The country has been the site of many diamond discoveries, including the famous Cullinan diamond, which was found in the Premier Mine in 1905 and weighed 3,106 carats. South African diamonds gave birth to the modern diamond industry. Two teenagers — Erasmus Jacobs and Cecil Rhodes — helped make this happen. Jacobs found the first South African diamond and Rhodes built up a diamond empire.

Nigeria is the largest oil producer in Africa and the 12th largest producer in the world. The country’s petroleum is classified mostly as “light” and “sweet”, as the oil is largely free of sulfur. Nigeria is the largest producer of sweet oil in OPEC. This sweet oil is similar in composition to the petroleum extracted from the North Sea. This crude oil is known as "Bonny light".

With all these resources Africa should be the greatest continent in the world if she utilises her resources well.

Ghana is Africa’s largest gold producer, producing 117.6 tons of gold in 2021. The country has a long history of mining, with gold being the primary mineral mined since the 15th century.

The African economy, comprising 54 economies, in 2021 is projected around US$2.7 trillion in nominal terms.

Nigeria’s GDP amounted to 441.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2021, the highest in Africa. To follow, South Africa’s GDP was worth 418 billion U.S. dollars and ranked as the second-highest.

Africa is home to some of the most beautiful and unique animals in the world. Some of the most iconic African safari animals include the Big Five heavyweights like the leopard and the rhino, to the charismatic giraffe.

Not also forgetting fishes, Africa is home to an abundance of freshwater and marine fish. There are hundreds of freshwater lakes and rivers in Africa. Some of the most notable are the African Great Lakes, a system of 7 lakes in East, South, and Central Africa. These lakes are known for their cichlid populations. One of the great lakes, Lake Malawi is an especially popular fishing destination, with over 1,000 species of fish. Fishing in Lake Malawi is best between September and April, but underwater viewing is best between May and October.

Africa is not poor, we are stealing it wealth. With all the resources available in Africa, Africa should be the richest continent in the world yet we haven’t manage this resources properly. More wealth is generated in Africa as a continent than anywhere else but the world doesn’t consider Africa the richest continent on earth. Although the African continent is blessed with gold, diamonds, oil, coltan, bauxite, uranium, iron ore and other valuable resources, its inhabitants have long numbered among the world’s poorest. While a few sub-Saharan African nations are doing relatively well, most are mired in poverty. That a continent’s abundant natural resources can in so many cases have so little effect on its people’s quality of life over so many years is one of the great mysteries surrounding the grouping of 49 nations located south of the Sahara desert.It is particularly vexing to the many international organizations, foreign governments and private groups that have been trying since the era of independence to promote regional development, food production, education, better housing, health care, improved infrastructure, jobs and economic growth. Although more than five decades have passed since the end of colonial times, African governments often still appear clueless when it comes to lifting their people from extreme poverty. Change can seem impossible.