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Foreign aid is not the solution to poverty in Africa. It's one of the reasons why Africa is poor. Yes, you heard that

right. For years, we've been sold the idea that aid from organizations like USAID helps lift Africa

out of its poverty. But here's the truth. If foreign aid worked, Africa would be the richest

continent on Earth by now. Free market advocate and former U.S. congressman Ron Paul described it perfectly.

Foreign aid is taking money from the poor people of a rich country and giving it to the rich

people of a poor country.

Walk through the streets of Dakar, Senegal, where I'm from, and you'll see exactly where

your aid money goes.

The city is filled with foreign residents working for the UN, non-governmental organizations, NGOs, and embassies.

They leave in a parallel economy, one that most Senegalese can only observe from the outside.

These aid workers enjoy lives of luxury, fine dining and expensive restaurants, driving new

SUVs, occupying the best apartments in town, improving multiple household staff and hosting

lavish parties. And by the way, they receive hardship pay for the sacrifice of living in

faraway places filled with malaria, tropical diseases, and tough climates.

This creates a devastating ripple effect throughout a local economy.

These organizations, flush with seemingly unlimited cash, inflate the cost of everything,

from housing to basic services.

A local business owner like me has to compete with these inflated prices

while running a real business with real constraints.

But the damage goes deeper than just raising the cost of living.

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