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US President Barack Obama inspects the Ghanaian Honour Guard during his first visit to the African continent
From the W hite H ouse to the C ape Coast of Ghana : million was the opposite end of the spec- having hosted Presidents Bill Clinton, George and I am proud that this is my first visit to
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hilst on his first journey to attend decision to visit Ghana was influenced by its place,” Obama said in an interview with Al- ment he makes, his visits to the Omanhene ood morning. It is an honor for me security can contribute to the world’s. And
the Group of Eight (G-8) meeting highly success and peaceful elections of the lAfrica.com, which covers news from the Af- of Oguaa and the infamous Cape Coast Cas- to be in Accra, and to speak to the the strength of your democracy can help ad-
in Europe, the President made a previous December, plus the efforts of the rican continent. tle which acted as a waypoint for slaves be- representatives of the people of vance human rights for people everywhere.
one-day stop in the West African country of Ghanaian government to chart a successful During his one-day visit, Obama met his ing shipped to the Caribbean Obama was Ghana. I am deeply grateful for the welcome So I do not see the countries and peoples of
Ghana, raising a great deal of excitement in course for the nation in challenging times. Ghanaian counterpart, John Atta Mills, who keen to be seen and heard. that I’ve received, as are Michelle, Malia, and Africa as a world apart; I see Africa as a fun-
the process. “By traveling to Ghana, we hope to highlight took office in January. The highly successful Ghana has long been a favourite African Sasha Obama. Ghana’s history is rich, the damental part of our interconnected world -
Although his father was Kenyan by birth, the the effective governance that they have in democratic election in the nation of some 23 country for visits by American Presidents ties between our two countries are strong, as partners with America on behalf of the
whole story. Here in Ghana, you show us a First, we must support strong and sustainable quarters of the country voted in the recent those who don’t, and that is exactly what
face of Africa that is too often overlooked by democratic governments. election - the fourth since the end of Apart- America will do.
a world that sees only tragedy or the need As I said in Cairo, each nation gives life to de- heid. We saw it in Zimbabwe, where the This leads directly to our second area of
for charity. The people of Ghana have mocracy in its own way, and in line with its Election Support Network braved brutal re- partnership - supporting development that
worked hard to put democracy on a firmer own traditions. But history offers a clear ver- pression to stand up for the principle that a provides opportunity for more people.
footing, with peaceful transfers of power dict: governments that respect the will of person’s vote is their sacred right.
even in the wake of closely contested elec- their own people are more prosperous, more Make no mistake: history is on the side of With better governance, I have no doubt
tions. And with improved governance and an stable, and more successful than govern- these brave Africans, and not with those that Africa holds the promise of a broader
emerging civil society, Ghana’s economy has ments that do not. who use coups or change Constitutions to base for prosperity. The continent is rich in
shown impressive rates of growth. This is about more than holding elections - stay in power. Africa doesn’t need strong- natural resources. And from cell phone en-
This progress may lack the drama of the it’s also about what happens between them. men, it needs strong institutions. trepreneurs to small farmers, Africans have
20th century’s liberation struggles, but make Repression takes many forms, and too many America will not seek to impose any system shown the capacity and commitment to cre-
no mistake: it will ultimately be more signifi- nations are plagued by problems that con- of government on any other nation - the es- ate their own opportunities. But old habits
cant. For just as it is important to emerge demn their people to poverty. No country is sential truth of democracy is that each nation must also be broken. Dependence on com-
from the control of another nation, it is even going to create wealth if its leaders exploit determines its own destiny. What we will do modities - or on a single export - concen-
more important to build one’s own. the economy to enrich themselves, or police is increase assistance for responsible individ- trates wealth in the hands of the few, and
So I believe that this moment is just as promis- can be bought off by drug traffickers. No uals and institutions, with a focus on support- leaves people too vulnerable to downturns.
ing for Ghana - and for Africa - as the moment business wants to invest in a place where the ing good governance - on parliaments, which In Ghana, for instance, oil brings great op-
when my father came of age and new nations government skims 20 percent off the top, or check abuses of power and ensure that oppo- portunities, and you have been responsible
were being born. This is a new moment of the head of the Port Authority is corrupt. No sition voices are heard; on the rule of law, in preparing for new revenue. But as so
promise. Only this time, we have learned that person wants to live in a society where the which ensures the equal administration of many Ghanaians know, oil cannot simply be-
it will not be giants like Nkrumah and Kenyatta rule of law gives way to the rule of brutality justice; on civic participation, so that young come the new cocoa. From South Korea to
who will determine Africa’s future. Instead, it and bribery. That is not democracy, that is tyr- people get involved; and on concrete solu- Singapore, history shows that countries
will be you - the men and women in Ghana’s anny, and now is the time for it to end. tions to corruption like forensic accounting, thrive when they invest in their people and
future that we want for all our children. That ginning right here in Ghana. Africans were Parliament, and the people you represent. automating services, strengthening hotlines, infrastructure; when they promote multiple
partnership must be grounded in mutual re- educating and asserting themselves in new Above all, it will be the young people - brim- In the 21st century, capable, reliable and and protecting whistle-blowers to advance export industries, develop a skilled work-
sponsibility, and that is what I want to speak ways. History was on the move. ming with talent and energy and hope - who transparent institutions are the key to suc- transparency and accountability. force, and create space for small and medi-
with you about today. Story continues below can claim the future that so many in my fa- cess - strong parliaments and honest police um-sized businesses that create jobs.
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ther’s generation never found. forces; independent judges and journalists; a s we provide this support, I have di- As Africans reach for this promise, America
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We must start from the simple premise that ut despite the progress that has been vibrant private sector and civil society. Those rected my Administration to give will be more responsible in extending our
Africa’s future is up to Africans. made - and there has been consider- To realize that promise, we must first recog- are the things that give life to democracy, be- greater attention to corruption in hand. By cutting costs that go to Western
I say this knowing full well the tragic past able progress in parts of Africa - we nize a fundamental truth that you have given cause that is what matters in peoples’ lives. our Human Rights report. People every- consultants and administration, we will put
that has sometimes haunted this part of the also know that much of that promise has yet life to in Ghana: development depends upon Time and again, Ghanaians have chosen Con- where should have the right to start a busi- more resources in the hands of those who
world. I have the blood of Africa within me, to be fulfilled. Countries like Kenya, which good governance. That is the ingredient stitutional rule over autocracy, and shown a ness or get an education without paying a need it, while training people to do more for
and my family’s own story encompasses had a per capita economy larger than South which has been missing in far too many plac- democratic spirit that allows the energy of bribe. We have a responsibility to support themselves. That is why our $3.5 billion food
both the tragedies and triumphs of the larg- Korea’s when I was born, have been badly es, for far too long. That is the change that your people to break through. We see that in those who act responsibly and to isolate security initiative is focused on new meth-
er African story. outpaced. Disease and conflict have ravaged can unlock Africa’s potential. And that is a re- leaders who accept defeat graciously, and vic- ods and technologies for farmers - not sim-
My grandfather was a cook for the British in parts of the African continent. In many plac- sponsibility that can only be met by Africans. tors who resist calls to wield power against ply sending American producers or goods to
Kenya, and though he was a respected elder in es, the hope of my father’s generation gave As for America and the West, our commit- the opposition. We see that spirit in coura- Africa. Aid is not an end in itself. The pur-
his village, his employers called him “boy” for way to cynicism, even despair. ment must be measured by more than just geous journalists like Anas Aremeyaw Anas, pose of foreign assistance must be creating
much of his life. He was on the periphery of It is easy to point fingers, and to pin the the dollars we spend. I have pledged substan- who risked his life to report the truth. We see the conditions where it is no longer needed.
Kenya’s liberation struggles, but he was still blame for these problems on others. Yes, a tial increases in our foreign assistance, which it in police like Patience Quaye, who helped America can also do more to promote trade
imprisoned briefly during repressive times. In colonial map that made little sense bred con- is in Africa’s interest and America’s. But the prosecute the first human trafficker in Ghana. and investment. Wealthy nations must open
his life, colonialism wasn’t simply the creation flict, and the West has often approached Af- true sign of success is not whether we are a We see it in the young people who are speak- our doors to goods and services from Africa
of unnatural borders or unfair terms of trade - rica as a patron, rather than a partner. But the source of aid that helps people scrape by - it ing up against patronage, and participating in in a meaningful way. And where there is
it was something experienced personally, day West is not responsible for the destruction of is whether we are partners in building the ca- the political process. good governance, we can broaden prosper-
after day, year after year. the Zimbabwean economy over the last de- pacity for transformational change. ity through public-private partnerships that
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My father grew up herding goats in a tiny cade, or wars in which children are enlisted as cross Africa, we have seen countless invest in better roads and electricity; capaci-
village, an impossible distance away from combatants. In my father’s life, it was partly This mutual responsibility must be the foun- examples of people taking control of ty-building that trains people to grow a busi-
the American universities where he would tribalism and patronage in an independent dation of our partnership. And today, I will their destiny, and making change ness; and financial services that reach poor
come to get an education. He came of age at Kenya that for a long stretch derailed his ca- focus on four areas that are critical to the fu- from the bottom up. We saw it in Kenya, and rural areas. This is also in our own inter-
an extraordinary moment of promise for Af- reer, and we know that this kind of corruption ture of Africa and the entire developing where civil society and business came to- est - for if people are lifted out of poverty
rica. The struggles of his own father’s gen- is a daily fact of life for far too many. world: democracy; opportunity; health; and gether to help stop post-election violence. and wealth is created in Africa, new markets
eration were giving birth to new nations, be- Of course, we also know that is not the the peaceful resolution of conflict. We saw it in South Africa, where over three will open for our own goods.
One area that holds out both undeniable business. It’s about the dignity of work. It’s - for instance, through E-Health initiatives death sentence of a society to force children
peril and extraordinary promise is energy. about the opportunity that must exist for that allow doctors in big cities to support to kill in wars. It is the ultimate mark of
Africa gives off less greenhouse gas than Africans in the 21st century. those in small towns. criminality and cowardice to condemn wom-
any other part of the world, but it is the America will support these efforts through a en to relentless and systematic rape. We
most threatened by climate change. A Just as governance is vital to opportunity, it comprehensive, global health strategy. Be- must bear witness to the value of every child
warming planet will spread disease, shrink is also critical to the third area that I will talk cause in the 21st century, we are called to in Darfur and the dignity of every woman in
water resources, and deplete crops, creating about - strengthening public health. act by our conscience and our common in- Congo. No faith or culture should condone
conditions that produce more famine and In recent years, enormous progress has been terest. When a child dies of a preventable the outrages against them. All of us must
conflict. All of us - particularly the devel- made in parts of Africa. Far more people are illness in Accra, that diminishes us every- strive for the peace and security necessary
oped world - have a responsibility to slow living productively with HIV/AIDS, and get- where. And when disease goes unchecked in for progress.
these trends - through mitigation, and by ting the drugs they need. But too many still any corner of the world, we know that it can Africans are standing up for this future. Here,
changing the way that we use energy. But die from diseases that shouldn’t kill them. spread across oceans and continents. too, Ghana is helping to point the way for-
we can also work with Africans to turn this When children are being killed because of a That is why my Administration has commit- ward. Ghanaians should take pride in your
crisis into opportunity. mosquito bite, and mothers are dying in ted $63 billion to meet these challenges. contributions to peacekeeping from Congo to
childbirth, then we know that more progress Building on the strong efforts of President Liberia to Lebanon, and in your efforts to re-
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ogether, we can partner on behalf of must be made. Bush, we will carry forward the fight against sist the scourge of the drug trade. We wel-
our planet and prosperity, and help Yet because of incentives - often provided by HIV/AIDS. We will pursue the goal of ending come the steps that are being taken by orga-
countries increase access to power donor nations - many African doctors and nurs- deaths from malaria and tuberculosis, and nizations like the African Union and ECOWAS
while skipping the dirtier phase of develop- es understandably go overseas, or work for pro- eradicating polio. We will fight neglected to better resolve conflicts, keep the peace,
ment. Across Africa, there is bountiful wind grams that focus on a single disease. This cre- tropical disease. And we won’t confront ill- and support those in need. And we encour-
and solar power; geothermal energy and bio- ates gaps in primary care and basic prevention. nesses in isolation - we will invest in public age the vision of a strong, regional security
fuels. From the Rift Valley to the North Afri- Meanwhile, individual Africans also have to health systems that promote wellness, and architecture that can bring effective, transna- The people of Africa are ready to claim that connections to the world. You can conquer
can deserts; from the Western coast to make responsible choices that prevent the focus on the health of mothers and children. tional force to bear when needed. future. In my country, African-Americans - disease, end conflicts, and make change
South Africa’s crops -Africa’s boundless nat- spread of disease, while promoting public As we partner on behalf of a healthier fu- including so many recent immigrants - have from the bottom up. You can do that. Yes
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ural gifts can generate its own power, while health in their communities and countries. ture, we must also stop the destruction that merica has a responsibility to ad- thrived in every sector of society. We have you can. Because in this moment, history is
exporting profitable, clean energy abroad. comes not from illness, but from human be- vance this vision, not just with done so despite a difficult past, and we have on the move.
These steps are about more than growth Across Africa, we see examples of people ings - and so the final area that I will address words, but with support that drawn strength from our African heritage.
numbers on a balance sheet. They’re about tackling these problems. In Nigeria, an Inter- is conflict. strengthens African capacity. When there is With strong institutions and a strong will, I But these things can only be done if you
whether a young person with an education faith effort of Christians and Muslims has genocide in Darfur or terrorists in Somalia, know that Africans can live their dreams in take responsibility for your future. It won’t
can get a job that supports a family; a farmer set an example of cooperation to confront Now let me be clear: Africa is not the crude these are not simply African problems - they Nairobi and Lagos; in Kigali and Kinshasa; in be easy. It will take time and effort. There
can transfer their goods to the market; or an malaria. Here in Ghana and across Africa, we caricature of a continent at war. But for far are global security challenges, and they de- Harare and right here in Accra. will be suffering and setbacks. But I can
entrepreneur with a good idea can start a see innovative ideas for filling gaps in care too many Africans, conflict is a part of life, mand a global response. That is why we Fifty-two years ago, the eyes of the world promise you this: America will be with you.
as constant as the sun. There are wars over stand ready to partner through diplomacy, were on Ghana. And a young preacher As a partner. As a friend. Opportunity won’t
land and wars over resources. And it is still technical assistance, and logistical support, named Martin Luther King traveled here, to come from any other place, though - it must
far too easy for those without conscience to and will stand behind efforts to hold war Accra, to watch the Union Jack come down come from the decisions that you make, the
manipulate whole communities into fighting criminals accountable. And let me be clear: and the Ghanaian flag go up. This was be- things that you do, and the hope that you
among faiths and tribes. our Africa Command is focused not on es- fore the march on Washington or the suc- hold in your hearts.
These conflicts are a millstone around Africa’s tablishing a foothold in the continent, but cess of the civil rights movement in my
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neck. We all have many identities - of tribe on confronting these common challenges to country. Dr. King was asked how he felt reedom is your inheritance. Now, it is
and ethnicity; of religion and nationality. But advance the security of America, Africa and while watching the birth of a nation. And he your responsibility to build upon free-
defining oneself in opposition to someone the world. said: “It renews my conviction in the ulti- dom’s foundation. And if you do, we
who belongs to a different tribe, or who wor- In Moscow, I spoke of the need for an interna- mate triumph of justice.” will look back years from now to places like
ships a different prophet, has no place in the tional system where the universal rights of hu- Accra and say that this was the time when
21st century. Africa’s diversity should be a man beings are respected, and violations of Now, that triumph must be won once more, the promise was realized - this was the mo-
source of strength, not a cause for division. those rights are opposed. That must include a and it must be won by you. And I am partic- ment when prosperity was forged; pain was
We are all God’s children. We all share com- commitment to support those who resolve con- ularly speaking to the young people. In plac- overcome; and a new era of progress began.
mon aspirations - to live in peace and secu- flicts peacefully, to sanction and stop those who es like Ghana, you make up over half of the This can be the time when we witness the
rity; to access education and opportunity; to don’t, and to help those who have suffered. But population. Here is what you must know: triumph of justice once more. Thank you.
love our families, our communities, and our ultimately, it will be vibrant democracies like the world will be what you make of it.
faith. That is our common humanity. Botswana and Ghana which roll back the causes You have the power to hold your leaders ac-
of conflict, and advance the frontiers of peace countable, and to build institutions that
That is why we must stand up to inhumanity and prosperity. serve the people. You can serve in your com-
in our midst. It is never justifiable to target As I said earlier, Africa’s future is up to Africans. munities, and harness your energy and edu-
innocents in the name of ideology. It is the cation to create new wealth and build new
US President Barack Obama inspects the Ghanaian Honour Guard during his first visit to the African continent