Annan’s op-ed, attempting to influence an American domestic debate, also raises a question that (as a former NYT Africa correspondent) has long troubled me: Why is there not a single African nation – including Annan’s native Ghana – that encourages immigration from Europe, America and other developed countries?

Such immigrants would bring needed skills and investment dollars. Such immigrants would bring new diversity. Such immigrants would almost certainly spur economic development and bring useful ideas about freedom, tolerance and democracy.

Where is the op-ed by Kofi Annan calling on African nations to say to those in the developed world that they would be welcomed and would have the opportunity to become full and equal citizens in Africa?

Why do we all accept that “migration” must always be a one-way street?