Weak Institutions and Low Productivity Perpetuate African Poverty, Expert Says

An expert has identified weak governance and poor productivity as the main drivers of persistent poverty in Africa. Economist Paul Alaje stated that "poverty thrives through weak or captured institutions." This means government bodies and systems are often ineffective or controlled by private interests. Such environments struggle to create economic growth and opportunity for their citizens. Alaje linked this institutional failure directly to low productivity across the continent. Without strong, fair institutions, efforts to improve economic output and reduce poverty consistently fall short. This combination creates a cycle that is difficult to break.