What Obama's Trip to Ghana Really Means

As President Obama and his family head for Africa, the choice of Ghana as the first sub-Saharan African nation to play host to the first African American president has many asking -- "Why Ghana?" It's perhaps on the surface not a remarkable choice: a place far from flashpoints and, although poor, peaceful and beginning to thrive. But, to me, the symbolism of Ghana is bold, and the message it sends to African leaders is an unusually strong one.
When I last visited Ghana, I met an enthusiastically democratic people, openly debating and discussing politics. Ghana was the first independent sub-Saharan African nation, and democracy isn't window dressing there: it is a vital and important feature of life. That may be greeted with skepticism, but here's the proof: leadership has shifted back and forth to the opposition twice -- no small feat for any country, and nothing short of exceptional for a relatively poor nation in Africa.

Ghana should also serve as a symbol of the strengths African countries possess and the challenges they face. The entrepreneurial spirit of the people that I met, and their vigorous pace of business impressed me and should have the same affect on investors looking to place capital in Africa. The recent news that Ghana may be sitting on substantial oil wealth is a strength, but also a challenge; in other sub-Saharan African nations, the exploitation of oil (or any sub-soil wealth for that matter) has resulted in a widening gulf between the haves and the have-nots. But, if any nation is poised to meet that challenge, Ghana is -- due to its strong representative government.

Other challenges remain. Democracy is thriving in Ghana, but the people are still quite poor. Health statistics and basic human development indicators have made relatively little progress over the last two decades. 10% of all kids die before reaching the age of five. Walking through health centers in the country, I was surprised to see the low level of their services against a backdrop of national growth. The country is booming, but not everyone is benefiting yet.
When it comes to Africa, President Obama may actually have a tough act to follow. The Bush Administration was committed through PEPFAR (the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) and additional programs to providing aid, a policy that made "Republicans" of many Africans. Ghana is one of the few recipients of Millennium Challenge Corporation funds, a US-financed agency that rewards countries committed to political and economic freedom with cash. Its half billion in Ghana for boosting smallholder farm income while improving governance and infrastructure seems to have been wisely placed.

With this visit, President Obama is staking out important, new ground. President Obama's choice of Ghana as his first stop in Sub-saharan Africa therefore takes on a larger dimension. Rather than picking one from the host of candidates, the president chose to visit a nation that embraces democratic ideals in which corruption is low and good, transparent government predominates. Part of his message is most assuredly that US assistance, heretofore strong and -- at times -- unquestioning, may in the future be linked to a compelling proof of democracy, openness and good governance. This should serve to remind African leaders what we value most in the U.S.

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Comments

[CanHandleTheTruth]

Obama's trip to Ghana is inevitably about oil and geostrategic control. Western Africa is expected to feed 25% of America's future oil needs, and Obama is the 'marketing CEO' to the continent.

Great documentary, split into 5 parts, that must be viewed on the subject:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHpsxBi_Ms0

[Stephanie Peters]

Obama's African today speech cuts straight to the heart of 21st century Africa – a continent as rich in mineral resources as it is infested with corruption.

However full of political rhetoric his sugar-coated speech may be, Obama’s decision to visit Ghana over other African nations speaks more than a thousand words.

The fact of the matter is that Ghana, spearheaded by Atta Mills, is making historic progress in its democratic and economic stability. In a continent, which is the spiritual father of many nations, including millions of Americans, spiritual guidance cannot be overlooked in Ghana’s success.

While many presidents run to native doctors, ‘seers’ or politically inclined prosperity preachers for spiritual guidance, Ghanaian President Atta Mills has chosen to sit under the ministry and mentorship of renowned Nigerian Prophet, TB Joshua, of The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations. Mills makes no secret of this close relationship and openly declares that TB Joshua has been his mentor, and close friend for the past 10 years, and even prophesied his surprising victory against the opposition in January 2009. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzR1poV0r04
http://thepmnews.com/2009/01/12/tb-joshua-predicted-my-victory-%E2%80%94ghana%E2%80%99s-leader
So, let us learn from Atta Mills who like Saul in the Bible, was anointed as King by Prophet Samuel. Ghana’s success is possible for other African nations if the people from whom we accept advice are led by God each day.

[YoofiNana]

Is it really such a big surprise that US President Obama decided to go to Ghana? Ghana is known for its free and fair elections, peaceful environment and friendly people. But can that be the only reasons for choosing Ghana as the first Sub-Saharan country to visit? There is a saying that nothing happens for nothing and nothing happens by chance. When you look at Ghana as a country you can see that the Higher Hand is leading them to something higher. Recently the newly elected president Professor John Evans Atta Mills came into power after Prophet T B Joshua, the General Overseer of The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations, prophesied his victory. Professor John Evans Atta Mills has been a close friend of T B Joshua for many years and it is widely known that Professor John Evans Atta Mills became president because He involved God in his matter. See the following link where Ghana President Professor John Evans Atta Mills shares his testimony.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzR1poV0r04

[gamoonbat]

I suppose that the Holy Spirit which stood behind our own George W. Bush throughout his crusade against the heathen terror threats in the Middle East now has time free to visit Africa. We are only to have our God speak through Prophet T B Joshua and inspire John Evans Atta Mills as he remakes Africa as well.

[PaiaGirl]

:-)

[YoofiNana]

Is it really such a big surprise that US President Obama decided to go to Ghana? Ghana is known for its free and fair elections, peaceful environment and friendly people. But can that be the only reasons for choosing Ghana as the first Sub-Saharan country to visit? There is a saying that nothing happens for nothing and nothing happens by chance. When you look at Ghana as a country you can see that the Higher Hand is leading them to something higher. Recently the newly elected president Professor John Evans Atta Mills came into power after Prophet T B Joshua, the General Overseer of The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations, prophesied his victory. Professor John Evans Atta Mills has been a close friend of Prophet T B Joshua for many years and it is widely known that Professor John Evans Atta Mills became president because He involved God in his matter. See the following link where Ghana President Professor John Evans Atta Mills shares his testimony.

[ufopp]

Now don't let this religious nonsense get out of hand.

[stell]

The most obvious question that residents of Ghana should ask Obama is why then do you support the most undemocratic, so-called dictatorships in Africa like Equatorial Guinea, Swaziland, Cameroon, Togo, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Rwanda, Gabon, Egypt and Tunisia and
Congo for starters?

Corruption? Are you kidding me? Try the $12.8 trillion committed to banks and financial institutions by this nation, trillions of which is unaccounted for, and a thoroughly corrupt Congress to say the least.

Hopefully there were some that were not fooled by this patronizing propaganda disguised as a speech.

President Obama needs to:

1. Cancel plans for AFRICOM.

1. Cancel the sanctions that he extended an extra year that have been levied against Zimbabwe.

2. Support full debt cancellation.

3. Support self-determination for not just Africans but indigenous peoples worldwide.

4. Recognize that literally every person on the planet wants to be productive and they don't need a condescending speech about moral absolutes, etc.

The West would love to get a jump on the oil discovered in Ghana, and ensure that they have the right government in place to prop up. The President's job is to make sure China doesn't get to it. It is what it is, and Ghanans need to stop being emotional (which is somewhat understandable) and just reason.

[ramblin jack]

When Mugabe goes maybe but till that madman is gone let the sanctions continue even if sanctions rarely acomplish much

[stell]

What you don't know about Zimbabwe could fill the Staples Center. Why not start with at least one article? I hope you read books because it's rather lengthy and doesn't have any pictures:

http://www.counterpunch.org/elich05072005.html

[devans00]

Although I could appreciate how happy the Ghanaians were to see the Obamas when they got off the plane, I was concerned about how they crowded around the POTUS and FLOTUS. Any bad guy could have easily got them in that crowd.