Daily Lessons from Life 12 July 2009

"Obama: Africa aid must be matched by good governance Sun Jul 12, 2009 2:15 am EDT

ACCRA (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama told Africans on Saturday that Western aid must be matched by good governance and urged them to take greater responsibility for stamping out war, corruption and disease plaguing the continent.


Obama delivered the message on his first visit to sub-Saharan Africa since taking office in January as the first black U.S. president. He chose stable, democratic Ghana because he believes it can serve as a model for the rest of Africa.

"Development depends upon good governance," Obama said in a speech to Ghana's parliament. "That is the ingredient which has been missing in far too many places, for far too long. That is the change that can unlock Africa's potential. And that is a responsibility that can only be met by Africans."


In an address that offered the most detailed view of his Africa policy, Obama took aim at corruption and rights abuses on the continent, warning that growth and development would be held back until such problems were tackled.

He said America would not impose any system of government, but would increase help for those behaving responsibly.


"The future of Africa is in the hands of Africans," Obama told a crowd of several thousand, including dancers and drummers, seeing him off after the visit of less than 24 hours.

Addressing the young people of Africa, Obama said: "You have the power to hold your leaders accountable and to build institutions that serve the people."


The visit has enormous resonance for Africa because of Obama's roots as the son of Kenyan immigrant. He laced his speech with tales of his background and the struggles of his forebears in the face of poverty and colonial rule.

"He said it in a way that perhaps other presidents could not because he started by outlining his own connections," said Kibazo, while noting Obama was less specific on promoting good governance than with a $63 billion health spending pledge.“

I am very glad that this black African-American President of the USA is acutely aware of his responsibility to bring the world closer together and help his ancestral Africa to move on!!

Africa is one continent that does not feature on my travel map as I still have this awe about its raw power and primitiveness! I know this is an irrational feeling as some countries in the dark continent do have very advance societies that are progressive and nice!

Lessons for me are:

1. change will NOT come from the incumbents who were corrupt and benefiting from the existing privilege positions and systems now! Change will have to come from the next generation of young people who have NOT being corrupted YET!! That is what brought President Obama to the presidency and that is what will be needed to deliver corrupt African nations from the clutches of the existing rulers!! So, speaking to the younger folks make a lot of senses!!;

2. giving aid to Africa is a favourite pastime of the developed nations, some of which were the past colonial masters like France, UK, Portugal, Spanish, and the Dutch. However, holding the people who received the aid to account for the distribution and use is OBVIOUSLY lacking. Someone in the system obviously had benefited enormously privately!! This is one of the main reasons I NORMALLY do not like to or want to contribute to some REMOTE aid programs!!;

3. until and unless the people recognized and realized their collective power to hold those in their government accountable, this 'leak' or 'unproductive loss of aid' will continue for eternity! I have read elsewhere that more Africans who made good in the USA and other so-called developed countries decided to come back to invest in education and develop the next generation of leaders with their money made from companies like Microsoft, Oracles, etc - the new money. This is great.

Ultimately, when the LEADERs decide that the reason for them to be in the leadership position is to help bring a better future to a greater number of people instead of just enriching their own pockets and live meaningfully, aid will be meaningful and the clutches can be thrown away quicker!!

May Africa progress and bring more peace and prosperity to the whole world!