Obama Evaluates Africa’s Dire Situation

Obama speaks in Africa; courtesy of NY Times

President Barack Obama’s recent visitation to Ghana on Saturday, July 11, could be a step in the right direction.  It could bring further awareness to Africa, a continent that has been overlooked in the world.  For the amount of suffering occurring in the impoverished area is monumental and it is has yet to be appropriately addressed.

Obama’s words could penetrate the minds of not just African leaders, but world leaders, which is important because the crisis in Africa is going to take a global effort.  All the problems surrounding Africa’s struggles seem to be found.  The question is truly, when will the world take more notice of this continent and act before it rots and withers away?

“Here in Ghana, you show us a face of Africa that is too often overlooked by a world that sees only tragedy or the need for charity,” Obama said.

Many people in Ghana gathered to greet President Obama; courtesy of Finbarr O'Reilly/Reuters

The main message Obama wanted to stress was how Africa is part of this world and how it is connected to America.  He stated how the U.S. needs to be more supportive of the continent in desperate need; for the future “for all our children.”

There needs to be different strategies implemented to help Africa rebuild and restructure its entire culture, economy, and society.  But, one factor Africa should focus on should be improving the way it governs among its countries.

“Development depends upon good governance,” Obama stated.  ”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.”

The Issues Africa Must Deal With Now:

“In recent years, enormous progress has been made in parts of Africa,” according to the U.S. president.  “Far more people are living productively with HIV/AIDS, and getting the drugs they need.”

“But too many still die from diseases that shouldn’t kill them,” Obama insisted.  “When children are being killed because of a mosquito bite, and mothers are dying in childbirth, then we know that more progress must be made.”

South Africa; courtesy of mrsmcgowan.com

Africa has been behind in the learning curve due to their inadequate resources and education about disease awareness. 

The death rates in South Africa are staggering in relation to the rest of the world.  Four of the top five countries with the highest death rates (approximate number of deaths/1,000 people) are located in the southern part of Africa according to a 2009 report from the world factbook by the CIA: Swaziland (30.83), Angola (24.08), Lesotho (22.20), and Zambia (21.34).

“That is why my administration has committed $63 billion to meet these challenges,” Obama said instilling hope.  “Building on the strong efforts of President Bush, we will carry forward the fight against HIV/AIDS.”

Africa’s economy is an issue in itself.  Each of the continent’s countries find themselves toward the very bottom of the world list for GDP per capita (PPP) according to the CIA.   For instance in Botswana, the government agreed to take out a loan of 1.5 billion dollars from the African Development Bank in June, for the first time in over 20 years according to AllAfrica.com.

The International Monetary Fund reported in its world economic outlook update on July 8 that the African economy has seen positive change, although it has been small; a 1.8% projected increase for 2009 and a slightly higher 4.1% increase projected for 2010; well above the world averages of -1.4% for 2009 and 2.5% for 2010 (compared to the -2.6% decrease for 2009 and a measly 0.8% increase for 2010 in the U.S.).

Another conflict that must be solved in Africa is the amount of youth fighting in its wars.  The crisis in Uganda involving Joesph Kony is a major example of how the children of the homeland are being forced to be involved in violence.  (More information about the “Invisible Children” in a previous post called, “Joesph Kony May Have Reached the End of the Road”)

“That is why we must stand up to inhumanity in our midst,” Obama said.  ”It is never justifiable to target innocents in the name of ideology.  It is the death sentence of a society to force children to kill in wars.”

What Change is Going to Take:

Obama said many encouraging words to the people of Africa.  He has an attitude that expresses optimism in a whole new way and such perspective is vital in trying times for a continent of devastation.

The people of Ghana embraced President Obama; a man who can trace his origins to their homeland; courtesy of Finbarr O'Reilly/Reuters

“I am particularly speaking to the young people,” Obama stated.  “In places like Ghana, you make up over half of the population. Here is what you must know: the world will be what you make of it.”

“You can serve in your communities and harness your energy and education to create new wealth and build new connections to the world,” Obama declared.  “You can conquer disease, end conflicts and make change from the bottom up.”

“Freedom is your inheritance,” Obama proclaimed, while addressing the people of Africa.  “Now, it is your responsibility to build upon freedom’s foundation.  This can be the time when we witness the triumph of justice once more.”