Obama:Africa's diversity should be a source of strength

President Obama in his maiden visit to Africa south of the has spoken directly to all the people but especially to the leaders who for the past fifty years have been in control and whose policies have brought untold economic hardship and misery to the people. Speaking directly to the tyrants and corrupt dictators in north, south, east, central and west Africa he said:

"Africa doesn't need strongmen, it needs strong institutions." Chastising them for being corrupt and abusers of human rights he added: "No country is going to create wealth if its leaders exploit the economy to enrich themselves, or if police can be bought off by drug traffickers," he said.

"No business wants to invest in a place where the government skims 20 percent off the top, or the head of the Port Authority is corrupt. 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, even if occasionally you sprinkle an election in there," he said, "and now is the time for that style of governance to end."

He encouraged the people of Africa to stand firm even in the face of the brutalities in Zimbabwe and other places. He said: "Make no mistake: history is on the side of these brave Africans and not with those who use coups or change Constitutions to stay in power."

The way forward for Africans to realise their dream of building vibrant societies in this 21st Century lies in"capable, reliable and transparent institutions [which] are the key to success - strong parliaments and honest police forces; independent judges and journalists; a vibrant private sector and civil society. Those are the things that give life to democracy, because that is what matters in peoples' lives.

Linking democracy and governance to economic prosperity and political stability and praising Ghana for chosing Constitutional rule over autocracy he declared "As I said in Cairo, each nation gives life to democracy in its own way, and in line with its own traditions. But history offers a clear verdict: governments that respect the will of their own people are more prosperous, more stable and more successful than governments that do not."Democracy is more than just holding elections it is about what happens between them he says. "Development", he says "depends upon good governance but 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".

He pledged America will support and coorperate with nations and institutions that make democracy and good governance their hallmark."What we will do is increase assistance for responsible individuals and institutions, with a focus on supporting good governance - on parliaments, which check abuses of power and ensure that opposition voices are heard; on the rule of law, which ensures the equal administration of justice; on civic participation, so that young people get involved; and on concrete solutions to corruption like forensic accounting, automating services, strengthening hot lines and protecting whistle-blowers to advance transparency and accountability."

He challenged Africans to stop pointing accusing fingures at the West and take their destiny into their own hands. He urged them to strive forward to take bold decisions that will free the continent from poverty, wars, civil conflicts, corruption and dictatorship. "Africa's future is up to Africans" he stresses. He encouraged the youth who are brimming with talent and new ideas to demand accountability from their leaders.

Touching on economic opportunities he urged African countries to diversify their economies from dependence on single commodities and invest in the people and infrastructure. "In Ghana, for instance, oil brings great opportunities, and you have been responsible in preparing for new revenue. But as so many Ghanaians know, oil cannot simply become the new cocoa. From South Korea to Singapore, history shows that countries thrive when they invest in their people and infrastructure; when they promote multiple export industries, develop a skilled work force and create space for small and medium-sized businesses that create jobs". He emphasised that "as Africans reach for this promise, America will be more responsible in extending our hand. By cutting costs that go to Western consultants and administration, we will put more resources in the hands of those who need it, while training people to do more for themselves".

On aid he said aid cannot be an end in itself but must lead to the building of capacities and transformational change. "But the true sign of success is not whether we are a source of aid that helps people scrape by - it is whether we are partners in building the capacity for transformational change".

Addressing the styreotype and the negative image that is often presented in Western media often portraying Africa as a continent in constant conflict and wars he said: "Now let me be clear: Africa is not the crude caricature of a continent at war". He however admitted that "for far too many Africans, conflict is a part of life, as constant as the sun. There are wars over land and wars over resources. And it is still far too easy for those without conscience to manipulate whole communities into fighting among faiths and tribes".

Acknowledging the many differences that exist in the continent in terms of tribe, ethnicity, religion and nationality he encouraged all to live in peace and harmony with one another saying it will be wrong to define oneself in opposition to someone who belongs to a different tribe, political party or religion. "Africa's diversity should be a source of strength, not a cause for division" he said. "We are all God's children. We all share common aspirations - to live in peace and security; to access education and opportunity; to love our families, our communities, and our faith. That is our common humanity", he emphasised.