| Obama's Speech in Ghana
Good morning. It is an honor for me to be in Accra, and to speak to the
representatives of the people of Ghana. I am deeply grateful for the welcome
that I’ve received, as are Michelle, Malia, and Sasha Obama. Ghana’s history is
rich, the ties between our two countries are strong, and I am proud that this is
my first visit to sub-Saharan Africa as President of the United States.
I am speaking to you at the end of a long trip. I began in Russia, for a
Summit between two great powers. I traveled to Italy, for a meeting of the
world’s leading economies. And I have come here, to Ghana, for a simple reason:
the 21st century will be shaped by what happens not just in Rome or Moscow or
Washington, but by what happens in Accra as well.
This is the simple truth of a time when the boundaries between people are
overwhelmed by our connections. Your prosperity can expand America’s. Your
health and security can contribute to the world’s. And the strength of your
democracy can help advance human rights for people everywhere.
So I do not see the countries and peoples of Africa as a world apart; I see
Africa as a fundamental part of our interconnected world – as partners with
America on behalf of the future that we want for all our children. That
partnership must be grounded in mutual responsibility, and that is what I want
to speak with you about today.
We must start from the simple premise that Africa’s future is up to Africans.
I say this knowing full well the tragic past that has sometimes haunted this
part of the world. I have the blood of Africa within me, and my family’s own
story encompasses both the tragedies and triumphs of the larger African story.
My grandfather was a cook for the British in Kenya, and though he was a
respected elder in his village, his employers called him “boy” for much of his
life. He was on the periphery of Kenya’s liberation struggles, but he was still
imprisoned briefly during repressive times. In his life, colonialism wasn’t
simply the creation of unnatural borders or unfair terms of trade – it was
something experienced personally, day after day, year after year.
My father grew up herding goats in a tiny village, an impossible distance
away from the American universities where he would come to get an education. He
came of age at an extraordinary moment of promise for Africa. The struggles of
his own father’s generation were giving birth to new nations, beginning right
here in Ghana. Africans were educating and asserting themselves in new ways.
History was on the move.
But despite the progress that has been made – and there has been considerable
progress in parts of Africa – we also know that much of that promise has yet to
be fulfilled. Countries like Kenya, which had a per capita economy larger than
South Korea’s when I was born, have been badly outpaced. Disease and conflict
have ravaged parts of the African continent. In many places, the hope of my
father’s generation gave way to cynicism, even despair.
It is easy to point fingers, and to pin the blame for these problems on
others. Yes, a colonial map that made little sense bred conflict, and the West
has often approached Africa as a patron, rather than a partner. But the West is
not responsible for the destruction of the Zimbabwean economy over the last
decade, or wars in which children are enlisted as combatants. In my father’s
life, it was partly tribalism and patronage in an independent Kenya that for a
long stretch derailed his career, and we know that this kind of corruption is a
daily fact of life for far too many.
Of course, we also know that is not the whole story. 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. The people of Ghana have worked hard to put
democracy on a firmer footing, with peaceful transfers of power even in the wake
of closely contested elections. And with improved governance and an emerging
civil society, Ghana’s economy has shown impressive rates of growth.
This progress may lack the drama of the 20th century’s liberation struggles,
but make no mistake: it will ultimately be more significant. For just as it is
important to emerge from the control of another nation, it is even more
important to build one’s own.
So I believe that this moment is just as promising for Ghana – and for Africa
– as the moment when my father came of age and new nations were being born. This
is a new moment of promise. Only this time, we have learned that it will not be
giants like Nkrumah and Kenyatta who will determine Africa’s future. Instead, it
will be you – the men and women in Ghana’s Parliament, and the people you
represent. Above all, it will be the young people – brimming with talent and
energy and hope – who can claim the future that so many in my father’s
generation never found.
To realize that promise, we must first recognize a fundamental truth that you
have given life to in Ghana: development depends upon good governance. 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.
As for America and the West, our commitment must be measured by more than
just the dollars we spend. I have pledged substantial increases in our foreign
assistance, which is in Africa’s interest and America’s. 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.
This mutual responsibility must be the foundation of our partnership. And
today, I will focus on four areas that are critical to the future of Africa and
the entire developing world: democracy; opportunity; health; and the peaceful
resolution of conflict.
First, we must support strong and sustainable democratic governments.
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.
This is about more than holding elections – it’s also about what happens
between them. Repression takes many forms, and too many nations are plagued by
problems that condemn their people to poverty. No country is going to create
wealth if its leaders exploit the economy to enrich themselves, or police can be
bought off by drug traffickers. 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, and
now is the time for it to end.
In the 21st century, capable, reliable and transparent institutions 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.
Time and again, Ghanaians have chosen Constitutional rule over autocracy, and
shown a democratic spirit that allows the energy of your people to break
through. We see that in leaders who accept defeat graciously, and victors who
resist calls to wield power against the opposition. We see that spirit in
courageous journalists like Anas Aremeyaw Anas, who risked his life to report
the truth. We see it in police like Patience Quaye, who helped prosecute the
first human trafficker in Ghana. We see it in the young people who are speaking
up against patronage, and participating in the political process.
Across Africa, we have seen countless examples of people taking control of
their destiny, and making change from the bottom up. We saw it in Kenya, where
civil society and business came together to help stop post-election violence. We
saw it in South Africa, where over three quarters of the country voted in the
recent election – the fourth since the end of Apartheid. We saw it in Zimbabwe,
where the Election Support Network braved brutal repression to stand up for the
principle that a person’s vote is their sacred right.
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. Africa doesn’t
need strongmen, it needs strong institutions.
America will not seek to impose any system of government on any other nation
– the essential truth of democracy is that each nation determines its own
destiny. 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
hotlines, and protecting whistle-blowers to advance transparency and
accountability.
As we provide this support, I have directed my Administration to give greater
attention to corruption in our Human Rights report. People everywhere should
have the right to start a business or get an education without paying a bribe.
We have a responsibility to support those who act responsibly and to isolate
those who don’t, and that is exactly what America will do.
This leads directly to our second area of partnership – supporting
development that provides opportunity for more people.
With better governance, I have no doubt that Africa holds the promise of a
broader base for prosperity. The continent is rich in natural resources. And
from cell phone entrepreneurs to small farmers, Africans have shown the capacity
and commitment to create their own opportunities. But old habits must also be
broken. Dependence on commodities – or on a single export – concentrates wealth
in the hands of the few, and leaves people too vulnerable to downturns.
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 workforce, and create
space for small and medium-sized businesses that create jobs.
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. That is why our $3.5 billion
food security initiative is focused on new methods and technologies for farmers
– not simply sending American producers or goods to Africa. Aid is not an end in
itself. The purpose of foreign assistance must be creating the conditions where
it is no longer needed.
America can also do more to promote trade and investment. Wealthy nations
must open our doors to goods and services from Africa in a meaningful way. And
where there is good governance, we can broaden prosperity through public-private
partnerships that invest in better roads and electricity; capacity-building that
trains people to grow a business; and financial services that reach poor and
rural areas. This is also in our own interest – for if people are lifted out of
poverty and wealth is created in Africa, new markets will open for our own
goods.
One area that holds out both undeniable peril and extraordinary promise is
energy. Africa gives off less greenhouse gas than any other part of the world,
but it is the most threatened by climate change. A warming planet will spread
disease, shrink water resources, and deplete crops, creating conditions that
produce more famine and conflict. All of us – particularly the developed world –
have a responsibility to slow these trends – through mitigation, and by changing
the way that we use energy. But we can also work with Africans to turn this
crisis into opportunity.
Together, we can partner on behalf of our planet and prosperity, and help
countries increase access to power while skipping the dirtier phase of
development. Across Africa, there is bountiful wind and solar power; geothermal
energy and bio-fuels. From the Rift Valley to the North African deserts; from
the Western coast to South Africa’s crops –Africa’s boundless natural gifts can
generate its own power, while exporting profitable, clean energy abroad.
These steps are about more than growth numbers on a balance sheet. They’re
about whether a young person with an education can get a job that supports a
family; a farmer can transfer their goods to the market; or an entrepreneur with
a good idea can start a business. It’s about the dignity of work. It’s about the
opportunity that must exist for Africans in the 21st century.
Just as governance is vital to opportunity, it is also critical to the third
area that I will talk about – strengthening public health.
In recent years, enormous progress has been made in parts of Africa. 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. 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.
Yet because of incentives – often provided by donor nations – many African
doctors and nurses understandably go overseas, or work for programs that focus
on a single disease. This creates gaps in primary care and basic prevention.
Meanwhile, individual Africans also have to make responsible choices that
prevent the spread of disease, while promoting public health in their
communities and countries.
Across Africa, we see examples of people tackling these problems. In Nigeria,
an Interfaith effort of Christians and Muslims has set an example of cooperation
to confront malaria. Here in Ghana and across Africa, we see innovative ideas
for filling gaps in care – for instance, through E-Health initiatives that allow
doctors in big cities to support those in small towns.
America will support these efforts through a comprehensive, global health
strategy. Because in the 21st century, we are called to act by our conscience
and our common interest. When a child dies of a preventable illness in Accra,
that diminishes us everywhere. And when disease goes unchecked in any corner of
the world, we know that it can spread across oceans and continents.
That is why my Administration has committed $63 billion to meet these
challenges. Building on the strong efforts of President Bush, we will carry
forward the fight against HIV/AIDS. We will pursue the goal of ending deaths
from malaria and tuberculosis, and eradicating polio. We will fight neglected
tropical disease. And we won’t confront illnesses in isolation – we will invest
in public health systems that promote wellness, and focus on the health of
mothers and children.
As we partner on behalf of a healthier future, we must also stop the
destruction that comes not from illness, but from human beings – and so the
final area that I will address is conflict.
Now let me be clear: Africa is not the crude caricature of a continent at
war. But 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.
These conflicts are a millstone around Africa’s neck. We all have many
identities – of tribe and ethnicity; of religion and nationality. But defining
oneself in opposition to someone who belongs to a different tribe, or who
worships a different prophet, has no place in the 21st century. Africa’s
diversity should be a source of strength, not a cause for division. 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.
That is why we must stand up to inhumanity in our midst. 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. It is the ultimate mark
of criminality and cowardice to condemn women to relentless and systematic rape.
We must bear witness to the value of every child in Darfur and the dignity of
every woman in Congo. No faith or culture should condone the outrages against
them. All of us must strive for the peace and security necessary for progress.
Africans are standing up for this future. Here, too, Ghana is helping to
point the way forward. Ghanaians should take pride in your contributions to
peacekeeping from Congo to Liberia to Lebanon, and in your efforts to resist the
scourge of the drug trade. We welcome the steps that are being taken by
organizations like the African Union and ECOWAS to better resolve conflicts,
keep the peace, and support those in need. And we encourage the vision of a
strong, regional security architecture that can bring effective, transnational
force to bear when needed.
America has a responsibility to advance this vision, not just with words, but
with support that strengthens African capacity. When there is genocide in Darfur
or terrorists in Somalia, these are not simply African problems – they are
global security challenges, and they demand a global response. That is why we
stand ready to partner through diplomacy, technical assistance, and logistical
support, and will stand behind efforts to hold war criminals accountable. And
let me be clear: our Africa Command is focused not on establishing a foothold in
the continent, but on confronting these common challenges to advance the
security of America, Africa and the world.
In Moscow, I spoke of the need for an international system where the
universal rights of human beings are respected, and violations of those rights
are opposed. That must include a commitment to support those who resolve
conflicts peacefully, to sanction and stop those who don’t, and to help those
who have suffered. But ultimately, it will be vibrant democracies like Botswana
and Ghana which roll back the causes of conflict, and advance the frontiers of
peace and prosperity.
As I said earlier, Africa’s future is up to Africans.
The people of Africa are ready to claim that future. In my country,
African-Americans – including so many recent immigrants – have thrived in every
sector of society. We have done so despite a difficult past, and we have drawn
strength from our African heritage. With strong institutions and a strong will,
I know that Africans can live their dreams in Nairobi and Lagos; in Kigali and
Kinshasa; in Harare and right here in Accra.
Fifty-two years ago, the eyes of the world were on Ghana. And a young
preacher named Martin Luther King traveled here, to Accra, to watch the Union
Jack come down and the Ghanaian flag go up. This was before the march on
Washington or the success of the civil rights movement in my country. Dr. King
was asked how he felt while watching the birth of a nation. And he said: “It
renews my conviction in the ultimate triumph of justice.”
Now, that triumph must be won once more, and it must be won by you. And I am
particularly speaking to the young people. 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 have the power to hold your leaders accountable, and to build
institutions that serve the people. You can serve in your communities, and
harness your energy and education to create new wealth and build new connections
to the world. You can conquer disease, end conflicts, and make change from the
bottom up. You can do that. Yes you can. Because in this moment, history is on
the move.
But these things can only be done if you take responsibility for your future.
It won’t be easy. It will take time and effort. There will be suffering and
setbacks. But I can promise you this: America will be with you. As a partner. As
a friend. Opportunity won’t come from any other place, though – it must come
from the decisions that you make, the things that you do, and the hope that you
hold in your hearts.
Freedom is your inheritance. Now, it is your responsibility to build upon
freedom’s foundation. And if you do, we will look back years from now to places
like Accra and say that this was the time when the promise was realized – this
was the moment when prosperity was forged; pain was overcome; and a new era of
progress began. This can be the time when we witness the triumph of justice once
more. Thank you.
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