The Great African Scandal
First broadcast on Channel 4 in September 2007
Introduction
In this thought-provoking documentary, made with the help of Christian Aid, academic Robert Beckford undertakes a challenging, emotional journey to Ghana in West Africa.
This is where, two centuries ago, Robert Beckford’s ancestors were seized and taken as slaves to Jamaica. Now he is making a journey to the land of his roots to discover the hidden costs of rice, chocolate and gold.
Working alongside local people, Robert struggles to survive on the average wage of 60p a day. He asks why, 50 years after independence, this country, which is rich in minerals and is a stable democracy, is still one of the poorest in the world.
He examines the activities of multinational corporations, as well as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, to find out whether they have actually made countries like Ghana worse off. And, most importantly, he asks how we, as consumers and citizens, can make a difference.
