Letter: Too many people? Not in Africa
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: At last a Western journalist, Richard Dowden, has got something right about Africa ('Over-population is not Africa's problem', 5 September).
As an African who has lived in Britain for seven years, the ignorance exhibited by the so- called 'population experts' and Western journalists never ceases to amaze me. They think Africa is densely populated, and that the population is spiralling out of control. This is not the case. Africa is sparsely populated (about 600 million people) and in many countries the problem they have is under-population not over-population.
In many rural areas in Africa, the infant mortality rate is extremely high. If you have eight children, about four will die before their fifth birthday. Most of the work in these areas is done manually, so it is absolutely essential to have a large family.
If Africa's population is reduced without an increase in health care provision, the population will be wiped out completely by the end of the next century.
We Africans must not allow that to happen.
Yours faithfully,
JOHN QUARSHIE AWUAH
London, SW9
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments