When Faith Replaces Planning: A Book Excerpt on Accountability in Africa

This excerpt from Chapter 9 of *The Real Reasons Africa Is Poor* examines how people sometimes blame spiritual forces for failures that may stem from poor planning, weak judgment or ignored risks. I recall overhearing a pastor ask a Lagos hotel receptionist about its security arrangements. When the receptionist answered, “By the grace of God,” the pastor insisted on practical details: who was responsible for security and whether they were armed. The incident raises a wider question about faith and responsibility. Religion is not presented as the problem. Rather, the excerpt argues that progress requires people to build systems, plan carefully and accept accountability instead of outsourcing human responsibility to the supernatural.

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