Ethiopia’s Bizarre Development Model—Prosperity For Few And Misery For The Rest  

“Ethiopia ’s Prosperity Gospel does more societal harm than social good,” writes Dr. Aklog Birara.

 Aklog Birara (Dr)   

Amartya Kumar Sen, an Indian economist and philosopher. received the Nobel Memorial  Prize in Economic Sciences for his contributions. Professor Sen defines development as “the expansion of real freedoms that people enjoy.” He emphasizes the notion that development is about expanding the ability of people to choose a life they value most.  

The essence of development is the enhancement of freedom: freedom from food scarcity and insecurity tops basic needs. Access to health care services, safe drinking water, electricity and the like are essential. Children enjoy freedom when they have access to education. In any case, human development puts the needs of “people first.”   

US Ambassador to Ethiopia Ervin Masinga released a timely statement saying:   

“As we mark another year of ongoing conflicts in Ethiopia, it is crucial to reflect on their impact on all Ethiopians. It is time to put people first by implementing lasting solutions to internal conflicts, enabling displaced people to return home, ensuring children can attend school and receive health care, and ending lawlessness masquerading as part of armed conflict.”  

I fail to understand “Why Ambassador Massinga refrains to opine directly on the following substantive policy matters a) the government of Ethiopia is primarily responsible for ethnic cleansing, genocide and massive displacement targeting Amhara; b) no one has been held accountable for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians during the Tigray War; c) the use of drones and other heavy weapons by the government of Ethiopia in the ongoing conflict in the Amhara region is a violation of international human rights laws that the USA defends fiercely in the case of South African Whites; and d) the government of Ethiopia must release medical professionals it arrested and jailed immediately and unconditionally.   

Ambassador Massinga is fully aware that on May 23, 2025, Amnesty International released an urgent statement “Ethiopian Authorities must engage in negotiations with striking healthcare professionals, unconditionally release medics.” It added, “Now is not the time for grandstanding and draconian clampdowns. Authorities must urgently come to the negotiation table, with the aim of resolving outstanding issues and allowing the resumption of healthcare services” in Ethiopia.”  

Failure to do so, in my view, will inevitably have a cascading effect involving all workers throughout Ethiopia. Is anyone listening though?  

Last week, I received credible information from Ethiopian insiders concerning massive diversion and misallocation of budgetary resources including foreign aid by the federal government of Ethiopia away from serving the basic needs of the Ethiopian “people first.” These basic needs include the ability of people to buy adequate food, receive health care, for children to attend school, for the millions of internally displaced people (IDPS) to return home without fear.  

For any of these to happen, you need government leadership that cares for people, leaders with an ounce of humanity, an empathetic leadership with a heart that does not diminish social capital and squander budgetary resources on glitz like projects.  

Regardless of source, drones do not feed people. Warmongering, killing civilians, weaponizing hunger, arresting and sending thousands of dissidents and peaceful protesters to jail as public policy will not solve Ethiopia’s multifaceted problems. It is impossible for Ethiopia to enjoy human security, peace, and stability while the current system remains intact. The more the regime does this, the more resentful citizens become. I have in mind the Arab Spring.  

Ethiopia’s Prosperity Gospel does more societal harm than social good. The data below expressed in Ethiopian Birr and US dollars converted at the current exchange official rate of one USD to 135 Birr except for Entoto (2021-2022) informs the insanity and extravaganza of the Prosperity Pary’s model at a public expense:   

1. The Chaka Project: Palaces, villas, and resorts for the rich and powerful cost more than two Trillion Ethiopian Birr (Fifteen Billion USD), the largest outlay of public funds.  

2. The Entoto Park Project adjacent to Addis Ababa: Six Billion Ethiopian Birr (one hundred fifty million USD).  

3. The Unity Park near Palace grounds and Sheraton Hotel: Five Billion Ethiopian Birr (thirty-seven million USD).  

4. Friendship Park: Five Billion Ethiopian Birr (thirty-seven million USD).  

5. The Science and Space Museum in Addis Ababa: Ten Billon Birr (seventy-four million USD).  

6. The Abrehot Library within walking distance of the Palace” Six Billion Birr (forty-four million USD).  

7. The Grand Palace Restoration and Museum: Ten Billon Birr (seventy-four million USD).  

8. The Adwa Memorial Museum: twenty Billion Birr (one hundred forty-eight million USD).  

9. The Meskel Adebabay Park: four Billion Birr (twenty-nine million USD).  

10. The World Convention Center: forty Billion Birr (two hundred ninety-six million USD).  

11. The Addis Ababa Corridor Development Phase I: one hundred Billion Birr (seven hundred-forty million USD), second largest.  

12. The Addis Ababa Municipal Administration’s Mayor’s Office Upgrade: two Billion Birr (fourteen million USD).  

13. Gorgora Park and Resort: five Billion Birr (thirty-seven million USD).  

14. Wonchie Park and Resort: five Billion Birr (thirty-seven million USD).  

15. Chebera Churchura Park and Resort: ten Billion Birr (seventy-seven million USD).  

16. Metahara Resort: thirty Billion Birr (two hundred twenty-two million USD).  

The government of Ethiopia invested over a staggering two trillion two hundred-eighty.  Billion Ethiopian Birr (equivalent to 17 billion US dollars) on palaces, resorts, and parks. Imagine a child without education benefiting from this.  

Consider the extravaganza against dire food and other essential needs of most of the population. Multidimensional poverty in Ethiopia is real. One cannot appreciate the leading reason Ethiopian health professionals have a just cause in protesting today without understanding the political economy of poverty in Ethiopia where 72 percent of the country’s 130 million people live in poverty.  

This is the highest percentage of any country in the world. More than half affected are children. By comparison, India’s is 16 percent, Nigeria’s 32 percent, and Pakistan’s 37 percent.  

The joint UNDP-Oxford report ranks Ethiopia 34th out of 41 African nations on the 

Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), highlighting its decline under the Prosperity Party.  

Diversion of resources for glitz, drones and the like is patently wrong and immoral.  

The UNDP-Oxford study “shreds” Abiy Ahmed’s narrative of “prosperity,” revealing the harsh reality that his administration prioritizes funding conflict over addressing the needs of the people.  

Measured by the extent of human freedom and quality of life, life in Ethiopia is hell. A Bar of soap costs one hundred Birr. A kilo of coffee costs 1,000 Birr. One quintal of Teff costs between 10,000 and 18,000 Birr depending on location.  

This takes me to a critical point Ambassador Ervin Masinga may be implying indirectly, namely, development is about the advancement of the welfare of people in all sectors. People suffering from daily necessities like food and suffering from illness cannot produce. Ethiopia’s health sector is collapsing while the world community keeps silent in the same manner as its economy.  

You must opine “If Ethiopia can afford to spend more than two trillion Birr on palaces, parks and resorts for its elite class, the regime must be willing and ready to respond to the needs of health professionals, civil servants, teachers, police officers and rank and file soldiers.   

In 2025, the starting salary for a Medical Doctor in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia was 10,000 Ethiopian 

Birr per month and the average 15,00p per month, the later equivalent to USD 100 at the FLOATING exchange rate.  

By comparison, a Kenyan Medical Doctor earns a minimum of $2,000 a month. Insiders tell us that Ethiopian military Generals and government cadres earn more and live better than medical professionals, civil servants and teachers who provide essential services to people.  

What incentive do these Ethiopians have to live, work, and serve the Ethiopian people?  

If you agree with me that Professor Sen’s eternal definition of development as “the expansion of real freedoms that people enjoy” is a must principle in alleviating poverty; then you would agree with me the government of Ethiopia does not believe serving “people first” is a national priority.   

This is why I conclude the “Prosperity Gospel” is anti-democratic, anti-humanity, anti-people first and thus anathema to sustainable and equitable development.  

Editor’s Note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com

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