On his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa as US President, Barack Obama, has said Africa must take charge of its own destiny in the world. Do you agree?
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Tough love
July 12th, 2009 |
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By Will Ross
BBC News, Ghana
He may only have been in Africa for 21 hours but it was long enough for Barack Obama to send out his inspiring message across the continent – "A New Moment Of Promise," he called it.
He urged Africans to stop laying the blame elsewhere and to take control of their own destiny.
He encouraged the younger generation to catch the "Yes We Can" fever that had assisted his own rise to the White House.
Strengthening democracy from the grassroots requires some brave foot soldiers and Mr Obama singled out the work of civil society groups such as Zimbabwe’s Election Support Network, which struggled to ensure people’s votes counted in the face of a violent state-driven clampdown.
"Make no mistake: history is on the side of these brave Africans, and not with those who use coups or change constitutions to stay in power. Africa doesn’t need strongmen, it needs strong institutions," Mr Obama stated.
Ghana is a case in point – one of the reasons for Ghana’s successful election late last year was its strong electoral commission.
Along the West African coast the Sierra Leone People’s Party was voted out of power in 2007 amid growing anger at government corruption.
The election worked because the National Electoral Commission, headed by Christiana Thorpe, was strong and did not buckle under pressure to fix the vote.
The strong institutions are certainly lacking in Barack Obama’s African home – Kenya.
When Mwai Kibaki was announced the winner of the 2007 election, the head of the government-appointed electoral commission, Simon Kivuiti, admitted that he did not know for sure if Mr Kibaki had won.
"He said if you want to play ball on the international level you have to play by the international rules"
Kwesi Aning
Kofi Annan Peacekeeping Institute
During his speech Barack Obama did not name and shame leaders – that is not his style.
But his denunciation of Africa’s "strong men" will have made a few leaders squirm in their presidential palaces.
Mr Obama seemed to be adding his voice to the collective despair across West Africa as Niger’s president, Mamadou Tandja, tears up the rule book in an attempt to stay in power.
Cameroon’s Paul Biya, Senegal’s octogenarian President Abdoulaye Wade, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni and several others have also changed the rules in order to remain in office.
Mutual responsibility
The question is whether those leaders are going to play the blindest bit of attention to the words of an African-American who is far more popular than they are.
They may well have reached for the television remote control and found something less uncomfortable to watch.
Barack Obama said the partnership between Africa and America must be one of mutual responsibility.
"He threw the ball into our own court and said if you want to play ball on the international level you have to play by the international rules," said Kwesi Aning of the Kofi Annan Peacekeeping Institute.
It will not be easy to change some old, corrupt habits but if Africa plays its part Barack Obama is promising a great deal in return including assistance to boost agriculture, trade and healthcare.
But, in a difficult economic climate, the US may be hard pushed to fulfil some of its promises.
In Uganda, for example, there is mounting concern as funding constraints are forcing health centres to stop enrolling new patients for US-funded anti-retroviral treatment under the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR) initiative which George Bush started.
Being an African-American means Barack Obama is listened to as a brother in Africa rather than as a condescending visitor.
Whiff of hypocrisy
People agreed with him rather than dismissing him when he hit out at some of the practises holding back the continent.
"No business wants to invest in a place where the government skims 20% off the top, or the head of the Port Authority is corrupt.
"No person wants to live in a society where the rule of law gives way to the rule of brutality and bribery. That is not democracy, that is tyranny and now is the time for it to end," he said.
Inside the conference centre, Ghanaian politicians cheered, applauded and gave a standing ovation. Some smelt hypocrisy there.
"The political leaders were clapping and cheering the speech. But when we plead for an end to the same problems that Obama highlighted we are threatened, abused and sidelined," said Mr Aning.
He commended the speech for being honest, direct and lacking spin but suggests the same cannot be said for some of the politicians who were listening to it.
"You have the power to hold your leaders accountable," Mr Obama said, aiming his message at the youth.
But it can be dangerous trying to stand up and call for better governance.
In March, two Kenyan human rights activists – Kamau Kingara and John Paul Oulo – were gunned down in broad daylight shortly after helping an investigation into extrajudicial killings by the Kenyan police.
"It won’t be easy. It will take time and effort. There will be suffering and setbacks," Mr Obama stated as he called for the continent to take responsibility for its future.</p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Obama speaks of hopes for Africa
July 11th, 2009 |
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Barack Obama is making his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa since taking office, visiting a nation chosen for its democratic record, Ghana.
The US president will deliver a speech outlining his hope that good governance can flourish across the continent.
He will also visit a historic slave castle alongside his wife Michelle, a descendant of African slaves.
People have poured into the capital, Accra, for a glimpse of the president during his 24-hour stay in Ghana.
Mr Obama arrived in the capital late on Friday, fresh from a G8 summit in Italy where the world’s eight most powerful nations agreed on a $20bn (£12.3bn) fund to bolster agriculture – the main source of income for many sub-Saharan Africans.
Just before leaving for the Ghanian capital, Accra, he said: "There is no reason why Africa cannot be self-sufficient when it comes to food".
He said Ghana had been chosen for the visit because of its strong track record of democracy and stability.
He is also scheduled to hold talks with President John Atta Mills.
"Part of the reason that we’re travelling to Ghana is because you’ve got there a functioning democracy, a president who’s serious about reducing corruption and you’ve seen significant economic growth."
The BBC’s Will Ross says President Obama will find it a challenge in the current economic climate to match some of the achievements of his predecessor, George W Bush, when it comes to health care in Africa, especially in the fight against HIV.
The visit to the slave fort at Cape Coast Castle will be a poignant moment for the country’s first African-American president and for his wife Michelle, whose ancestors are believed to have come from West Africa, our correspondent says.
Tight security
Posters of Barack and Michelle Obama are to be seen everywhere in Accra, where their arrival was eagerly awaited.
The White House reported that over 5,000 Africans had sent text message to the US president ahead of the visit.
ANALYSISMartin Plaut, BBC News
For Ghanaians, there is little doubt that they deserve to be Mr Obama’s first real African destination since assuming office.
Nigeria was not really suitable, given the question marks over the way in which President Umaru Yar’Adua was elected. Kenya, home of Mr Obama’s father, experienced post-election violence. Ethiopia has jailed the leader of the opposition, and South Africa’s Jacob Zuma is new in the post and something of an unknown quantity.
Not only is Ghana clearly democratic, but it has some of the African oil on which the US increasingly depends, and there is the symbolic link with slavery, from which so many African-Americans trace their heritage.
So Ghana ticks Mr Obama’s boxes – a suitable stage on which to launch the president’s Africa policy on the continent itself. Obama brings hope amid dark memories
On arrival, President Obama and his family were met by President Atta Mills, and treated to a colourful welcome featuring drummers and traditional dancers.
Ghanaian musicians have written songs to mark the visit and it is clear that millions of Ghanaians would love to see Mr Obama, our correspondent says.
However, there will be few opportunities for them to do so during his 24-hour stay.
When former President Bill Clinton came more than a decade ago, he addressed hundreds of thousands of cheering Ghanaians.
But post-9/11, security is tighter and all events are for invited guests only, our correspondent notes.
Barack Obama visited sub-Saharan Africa while a US senator, making a trip to Kenya – his father’s homeland – in August 2006. Cape Coast, a town about 160km (100 miles) west of Accra, has even suspended funerals on account of Mr Obama’s impending visit to its old slave fort.
"We banned all funeral activities in Cape Coast because we want to give a befitting welcome to the US president," Ghana’s central regional minister, Ama Benyiwaa Doe, told AFP news agency.
"The dead can be buried later but Obama is here for once and we must pay all attention to him." </p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Historic African trip for Obama
July 11th, 2009 |
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Barack Obama, the first African-American president, is due in Ghana shortly on his first visit to sub-Saharan Africa as US leader.
Ghana was chosen because of its democratic track record and Mr Obama is expected to use the trip to promote democracy across the continent.
He is due to visit a former slave fort as part of the 24-hour visit.
Posters of Barack and Michelle Obama dot the capital, Accra, where their arrival is eagerly awaited.
"The dead can be buried later but Obama is here for once and we must pay all attention to him"
Ama Benyiwaa Doe
Ghanaian minister, explaining suspension of funerals in Cape Coast
Musicians have written songs to mark the event and it is clear that millions of Ghanaians would love to see Mr Obama, the BBC’s Will Ross reports from the city.
However, there will be few opportunities for them to do so during his 24-hour stay.
When former President Bill Clinton came more than a decade ago, he addressed hundreds of thousands of cheering Ghanaians.
But post-9/11, security is tighter and all events are for invited guests only, our correspondent notes.
Key rings and umbrellas
Barack Obama visited sub-Saharan Africa while a US senator, making a trip to Kenya – his father’s homeland – in August 2006.
ANALYSISMartin Plaut, BBC News
For Ghanaians, there is little doubt that they deserve to be Mr Obama’s first real African destination since assuming office.
Nigeria was not really suitable, given the question marks over the way in which President Umaru Yar’Adua was elected. Kenya, home of Mr Obama’s father, experienced post-election violence. Ethiopia has jailed the leader of the opposition, and South Africa’s Jacob Zuma is new in the post and something of an unknown quantity.
Not only is Ghana clearly democratic, but it has some of the African oil on which the US increasingly depends, and there is the symbolic link with slavery, from which so many African-Americans trace their heritage.
So Ghana ticks Mr Obama’s boxes – a suitable stage on which to launch the president’s Africa policy on the continent itself.
Mr Obama’s official business on Saturday includes talks with Ghana’s president and a speech to parliament.
With the US president due to touch down late on Friday, people were already out celebrating, dancing and drumming in the seaside city’s streets.
Memorabilia being sold by vendors ranged from key rings and coffee mugs to handkerchiefs and umbrellas bearing portraits of Mr Obama and Ghana’s President John Atta-Mills.
Thousands of police have been deployed for the visit and a number of city roads were closed on Friday.
Cape Coast, a town about 160km (100 miles) west of Accra, has even suspended funerals on account of Mr Obama’s impending visit to its old slave fort.
"We banned all funeral activities in Cape Coast because we want to give a befitting welcome to the US president," Ghana’s central regional minister, Ama Benyiwaa Doe, told AFP news agency.
"The dead can be buried later but Obama is here for once and we must pay all attention to him."
Squeeze on aid
Across the African continent, people are pinning a lot of hope on Barack Obama partly because of his African roots but also because of his election slogan, Yes We Can, our correspondent reports.
He arrives in Ghana hours after leaders of the G8 industrialised countries pledged billions of dollars to boost agriculture – the main source of income for many sub-Saharan Africans.
But in Africa it will not be easy for Mr Obama to live up to some of the achievements of his predecessor, George W Bush, Will Ross adds.
The financial climate is different now and American-funded programmes, such as the provision of medicine for people living with HIV, are facing new challenges. </p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Obama begins landmark visit to Ghana
July 11th, 2009 |
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US President Barack Obama on Saturday addresses parliament and visits a historic slave castle during a landmark visit to Ghana, widely seen as a tribute to a vibrant democracy in conflict-scarred Africa. Obama will speak to lawmakers about democracy during the 24-hour visit, his first to
Obama Speech: Your Reaction
July 6th, 2009 |
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US President Barack Obama has said Africa must take charge of its own destiny in the world. Do you agree
President Obama, on his first official visit to sub-Saharan Africa, has made a powerful call for Africans to stand up for their democratic rights.
He said Africa could have a prosperous future and promised American aid to fight the continent’s diseases, conflicts and lack of development.
Is this a defining moment for the continent Has President Obama lived up to expectations And what does this speech say about Africa’s place in the worldWe would like to hear from you.
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This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.