8/4/2019 Darkest Europe Africa & Obama

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Darkest Europe – President B. Obama in Ghana

By Akinyi Princess of K’Orinda-Yimbo

When the New York Times announced on May 17th that “The president and 

Mrs Obama look forward to strengthening the US relationship with one of our 

most trusted partners in sub-Saharan Africa…” certain hackles rose in Africa. The

 “giant of Africa” Nigeria was gnashing its teeth for being bypassed, undemocratic

patterns of their ruling party notwithstanding. Had not thousands of Nigerians at

home and in the USA contributed hugely to the Obama Campaign physically and

financially? Or was this the snub because President Yar’Adua, visiting the USA,

first agreed to host AFRICOM then back in Nigeria he announced his country

would oppose the hosting of foreign military bases anywhere in the continent?

During Obama’s campaign I was amazed at how many Africans –

especially those with aspirations to go to the USA – were of the opinion that

Barack Obama shouldn’t win the presidency: he was an African, heavens. He’d

turn America into another Congo or Liberia! The same old collective psychological

damage. Anything African, however remotely, spells disaster. Witnessing the

President and his family walking through Cape Coast has not alleviated any of 

the damage. There’s the camp who bristle at the single CCC itinerary – the

conspiracy theorists, haters of capitalism and imperialism. Why Cape Coast

Castle when the president had not even attended the recent UN World

Conference Against Racism in Geneva to support the declaration of slavery as a

crime against humanity? Is this quick skip a courtship to woo Ghana for oil

concessions, what with the Chinese on the prowl? Or is it to do with

headquartering AFRICOM in Ghana instead of Germany, despite all African

nations but Liberia having been against hosting foreign bases on the continent?

Perhaps just a peek at the US Embassy/CIA headquarters with all its nefarious

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activities now centralized in Accra ever since the terrorists bombed it out of 

Nairobi in 1998? New modus operandi?

The charismatic son of the planet sends a mighty message to the world of 

how far Africa and the USA have come – a full four seasons, say the disgruntled.

Greetings to his USA “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 .” He should know because George, George W and Jeb

are no strangers to him. Turning the US diplomatic chapter, his message was

that whatever injustices have occurred or still occur are by no means excuses for

leaving the responsibility of one’s fate in somebody else’s hands. Okay, the

disgruntled say, then let’s have the repatriation first – 53 schools and hospitals

built and equipped, 1 per country, a humble request.

But here’s a world leader who understands Africa’s immense potential, the

truth that the world needs Africa as much, if not more than Africa needs the

world. He dreams of tearing Africa out of patronization and the beggar-my-

neighbour game. Africa’s incredible wealth only needs good governing and

institutional support to turn into success. Handouts time is over. Systematic aid

continually worsens the disease it should cure: it perpetually underdevelops.

Obama will not support corrupt leaders, says he. But the granite is to eradicate

big time corruption with the likes of Chevron, Unilever and Briggs Bank and

influence Brown, Sarkozy, Merkel & associates to curtail the bribing enthusiasm

of their multinationals. Developing and wealthy worlds need to cooperate for a

common security and economic success. Everybody’s destiny is inextricably

intertwined. Africa has been giving security and economic success to the wealthy

while remaining exposed to the worst possible.

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Lastly, it will be a welcome change if the external and internal practise of 

manipulating Africans into ethnic and religious conflicts cease so that Africa's

diversity, like its resources, turns into strength, not cause for division.