The importance of Barack Obama’s historic visit to Ghana, Sub-Sahara Africa as oppose to Kenya his ancestral home, where there still lies political turmoil after the electoral malpractices that resulted in a marriage of convenient, between the aging, despotic President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, on the other hand Nigeria, the self proclaim ‘giant of Africa’ where over 70% of the citizens are below international poverty line and far below parity on health care delivery, and Zimbabwe where Mr Robert Mugabe leave in affluence and his people leaves in abject poverty, dying of malnutrition and cholera, speaks of Mr Obama’s values. Those values that brought him from obscurity, to a relatively unknown junior senator from Illinois Chicago, through the rigors’ of serial campaigns for the United States Democratic party ticket, election that highlighted the quintessence of a democratic process, to the most powerful office on planet earth – President of the United States of America. Those values that encompass the very essence of respect for human rights and the rule of law, values that appreciate sustainable democratic development, governance by consent and not by cohesions. Leaders that their primary thoughts and discharged duties are to those they govern, not manipulation of the electoral and legislative system, turning national treasury into a private account, indiscriminating enlarging their bank accounts with national wealth and blaming colonialism for their national woes. In the words of the Prime minister of Kenya Raila Odinga "We should stop blaming colonialism for our under-development. We really need to address issues of governance, because I believe it is the mediocrity with which Africa has been governed that is responsible for our backwardness today" (BBC live news channel July 11, 2009).
President Barack Hussain Obama, choose to side stepped sentiments by not making his father’s birth place, Kenya his first point of call. When, as the first black commander in chief of USA, visited sub-Sahara African soil. Ghana was his first point of call, a historic visit of gargantuan proportion. Why Ghana? One does not need a magnifying lens for Sub Sahara Africa to see the obvious. Ghana from the second coming of Jerry Rawlings, further to formal President John Kufuor, President John Atta Mill who succeeded Mr. Kufuor, chooses to embrace good governance in contrast to the aforementioned countries, Kenya and Nigeria to mention but a few. Ghana has distinguished itself with enviable strong democratic credentials. According to Peter baker of New York Times, May 17, 2009 referring then to the proposed visit, he stated that Ghana “as a model for governance, Mr. Obama’s advisers concluded that Ghana offered an opportunity to promote important values even in a short visit.,” By that historic visit, President Obama chooses to send a clear, unequivocal message of those important values to those that governs the states of Africa. Barack Obama, the first American black president told his audience, “Africa doesn't need strongmen, it needs strong institutions. 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" (extract from CNN live coverage July 11, 2009). Africa does not need rulers, we need leaders, that can us develop strong democratic institutions, dynamic, vibrant institutions that allows growth and investment to flourish, that can deliver justice and equality. Achieving those will definitely be the road map to the eradication of poverty, bribery at police check points and all other establishments, thus ensuring security for life and properties. That pursuit can only be realised by good, sound governance!
President Obama’s message to Africa leaders from the Ghanaian Parliament could not be clearer. That his administration will be a willing partner with any African country that evidently can demonstrate good sound governance. What audacity? Oh yes, he can! His record way before he became US president attest that Barack Obama is a man that patently exhibit good values, led by examples; hence he was the first African American president of Harvard Law Review, elected by the people (not bought, rigid or intimidated votes) to the US Senate by the largest margin in Illinois history. Values that saw him listed in 1993 by Crain’s Chicago Business as “40 under forty” power to be. Values that made him co-sponsors of such Bills as “Federal Funding Accountancy and Transparency Act in 2006 (Coburn – Obama Transparency Act), in 2007, Honest Leadership and Open government Act, with Senator Feingold, which was signed into law in Sept 2007. A man, who in his first few days in the Oval office as the 44th American President reduced the secrecy given to presidential records, Should I continue? I guess not! I cannot fathom the lack of sincerity on the part of our African chieftains for transparency and accountability. Why are leadership qualities, good governance so distant from our rulers?
President Barack Hussain Obama, choose to side stepped sentiments by not making his father’s birth place, Kenya his first point of call. When, as the first black commander in chief of USA, visited sub-Sahara African soil. Ghana was his first point of call, a historic visit of gargantuan proportion. Why Ghana? One does not need a magnifying lens for Sub Sahara Africa to see the obvious. Ghana from the second coming of Jerry Rawlings, further to formal President John Kufuor, President John Atta Mill who succeeded Mr. Kufuor, chooses to embrace good governance in contrast to the aforementioned countries, Kenya and Nigeria to mention but a few. Ghana has distinguished itself with enviable strong democratic credentials. According to Peter baker of New York Times, May 17, 2009 referring then to the proposed visit, he stated that Ghana “as a model for governance, Mr. Obama’s advisers concluded that Ghana offered an opportunity to promote important values even in a short visit.,” By that historic visit, President Obama chooses to send a clear, unequivocal message of those important values to those that governs the states of Africa. Barack Obama, the first American black president told his audience, “Africa doesn't need strongmen, it needs strong institutions. 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" (extract from CNN live coverage July 11, 2009). Africa does not need rulers, we need leaders, that can us develop strong democratic institutions, dynamic, vibrant institutions that allows growth and investment to flourish, that can deliver justice and equality. Achieving those will definitely be the road map to the eradication of poverty, bribery at police check points and all other establishments, thus ensuring security for life and properties. That pursuit can only be realised by good, sound governance!
President Obama’s message to Africa leaders from the Ghanaian Parliament could not be clearer. That his administration will be a willing partner with any African country that evidently can demonstrate good sound governance. What audacity? Oh yes, he can! His record way before he became US president attest that Barack Obama is a man that patently exhibit good values, led by examples; hence he was the first African American president of Harvard Law Review, elected by the people (not bought, rigid or intimidated votes) to the US Senate by the largest margin in Illinois history. Values that saw him listed in 1993 by Crain’s Chicago Business as “40 under forty” power to be. Values that made him co-sponsors of such Bills as “Federal Funding Accountancy and Transparency Act in 2006 (Coburn – Obama Transparency Act), in 2007, Honest Leadership and Open government Act, with Senator Feingold, which was signed into law in Sept 2007. A man, who in his first few days in the Oval office as the 44th American President reduced the secrecy given to presidential records, Should I continue? I guess not! I cannot fathom the lack of sincerity on the part of our African chieftains for transparency and accountability. Why are leadership qualities, good governance so distant from our rulers?
The US President told his audience that "Development depends upon good governance that is the ingredient which has been missing in far too many places, for far too long and that is a responsibility that can only be met by Africans." It is therefore paramount for African States, Nigeria in particular, to actualise the importance of good governance, as it is the cream, vital for development. To, have the audacity to shun corruption and to develop human capacity. Honestly tackle the mayhem of brain drains, engineer physical material requirements of national growth. Our people, our professional are fleeing our countries in drove for, not necessary greener pasture, but from intimidation, lack of opportunities, good facilities such as health care, public transport, education and threat to life and properties. We can and must keep the brains at home, not lose them to our competitors; other countries that are already far advance than ours!
We do not need President Obama, to tell us that our problems can only be solved by us. No, not at all, they were created by us, - greed! So let us fix it and fix it now, we have the capability to, we can solve them. First by shunning corrupt practises, taking reasonable steps to avoid conflicts within or outside of our borders and adapting conflict resolution practises, instead of perpetuating them for our selfish interest, whether for political reasons, land dispute or otherwise, investing in meaningful health care, education programmes and social welfare.
Corruption was giving birth to by greed. Corruption is intrinsically so imbedded in our way of life that the only reason for most people to seek elected office is for immediate gateway to riches. President Obama, so eloquently lectured us to the evil of corruption. The only reward from corruption, it hinders progress. The African states are burdened primarily by diseases, conflicts, lack of foresight and above all corruption. To me, his message was crafted specifically for the Nigerian hierarchy. Amongst others, a major significance of that visit to Ghana is global attention, in terms of trade and tourism; undoubtedly, there will be further influx of tourism and foreign investment into that country. Surely one does not have to be an economist to know what impact such investments would have on society. Every country needs that!
President Obama’s perspicacity was clearly obvious, simple clear statement of intent as to his desire for Africa. The question now, would our African rulers (exception to Ghana; they have leaders) mend their ways? Would Nigeria, amongst other challenges, sincerely address the disparity in the Niger Delta for the sake of justice and equity? African States and indeed Nigeria, that are guilty of bad governance should not waste time analysing how Mr Obama’s visit to Ghana has slighted them, but rather, wake up to the challenge of a fresh course, to steer Nigeria on the right course of a truly recognisable greatness, to be Africa’s flagship in shaping the 21st Century, only then would we earn the desired podium of being ‘giant of Africa’, until then, let’s stop embarrassing ourselves. Yes we can!
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