President Barack Obama’s choice of Ghana for his first visit to sub-Saharan Africa since taking office has stirred debate in his father’s homeland Kenya.
Some Kenyans believe Obama ought to have come “home” first. Others, especially among critics of President Mwai Kibaki’s government, say he has deliberately shunned the country to show U.S. disapproval of rampant corruption and nepotism in political circles here.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who comes from the Luo ethnic group like Obama’s father, said it was wrong to read too much into Obama’s itinerary, given that neither was he visiting other influential nations in the region like South Africa and Nigeria.
“Ghana is symbolic. It was the first African country to gain independence from Britain in 1957. Ghana is very advanced in its transition to democratic form of governance. So it is perfectly logical,” he told Reuters.
“If Obama were to come to Kenya as the first country in Africa, it would send some very wrong signals that he is coming here merely because of some organic relationship that he has with this country. So in fact it is good.”
Obama has been to Kenya several times, most recently as a senator in mid-2006. In a speech then, he took a strong line against corruption, which has plagued East Africa’s largest economy for decades. “If the people cannot trust their government to do the job for which it exists - to protect them and promote their common welfare - then all else is lost. That is why the struggle of corruption is one of the great struggles of our time,” he said.
That speech drew a sharp response from the government. Spokesman Alfred Mutua called Obama a young man who was “very poorly informed” and chided him for “lecturing” Kenyans. When Obama took power, however, the Kibaki government was so happy it announced a national holiday in his honour. The U.S. leader is wildly popular among all sectors of Kenyan society.
So should Obama have included Kenya on his Africa tour? Is he snubbing his ancestral homeland?
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Clinton did not visit Gabon, though it is on the cusp of the most important election of it\’s history
Governed by a doggedly autocratic ruler for over four decades, the
- Posted by Juniper DCentral West African country of Gabon has finally been given a fragile
and fleeting opportunity for democratic leadership by the death of
Omar Bongo, 72. However despite international investigations that
turned up evidence of a $200 million plus personal family fortune clearing
pointing to gross corruption and substantial embezzlement of the
country\’s significant oil revenues and questionable foreign investments, the dynastic political manoeuvring of a Bongo into power remains a distinct possibility.
Bongo\’s son, Ali-Ben Bongo, is currently poised to assume the
Presidential position as the electoral candidate for the powerful
ruling party, PDG. Long known for his ability to silence critics and
woo political rivals into the fold, Bongo\’s legacy includes government
control of all telecoms and media virtually guaranteeing that
the opposition get no air time or platform. Regardless of these
difficulties, 8 candidates are participating in the August 30th elections at a moment in history where Gabon desperately needs transparent, independent and regulated
government.
Though rich oil and mineral reserves combined with a small
population mean that Gabon is one of the richest nations in
Sub-Saharan Africa, with a per capita income 4 times the average and a
GDP of over $20billion, most of the country languishes in poverty.
Away from from the cool air conditioned government buildings and the
opulent presidential palaces, at least 30% of the population
survive on less than $1 a day and living without food, water,
electricity and basic sanitation.
One independent nominee looking to
alleviate the crippling poverty and harsh life of the Gabonese people
is Bruno Ben Moubamba. Born the year Omar Bongo first came to power in
1967, Moubamba has a powerful vision of a post-Bongo Gabon which he is
working hard to communicate across an information-restricted Gabon by
harnessing the power of new technology http://moubamba.com/. Hopeful
that the democratic process will result in a more passionate,
inclusive and citizen-centric government, Moubamba is determined to
develop and diversify Gabon\’s economy so that one day it is the
people, not simply the leaders of this beautiful country, that
benefit.
[...] Pirate’s Cove: Oh, Goody. Obama Ticks Off Brazil, Russia May Base Bombers In Cuba Reuters: Is Obama Snubbing Kenya on Africa trip? GavinSucks.com: Obama Snub Still Rubs Newsom Phantom17’s Blog: Brown faces humiliation after [...]
- Posted by Reset Button Broken? Obama’s Handshake Snubbed by Russian Leaders? Tough to Determine… « Frugal Café Blog ZoneHats off to the president of the world.He is merely being impartial by not visiting Kenya.Remember he also has Sudanese origins,so why are we also not talking about him not going to Sudan?The Kenyan ,Zimbabwean and other African politicians need to put their house in order.
- Posted by CHALOTA BEDZA FROM RSA[...] Pirate’s Cove: Oh, Goody. Obama Ticks Off Brazil, Russia May Base Bombers In Cuba Reuters: Is Obama Snubbing Kenya on Africa trip? GavinSucks.com: Obama Snub Still Rubs Newsom Phantom17’s Blog: Brown faces humiliation after [...]
- Posted by Screwball Comedy: White House Misspells Barack Obama’s Name on US-Russian Document, Plus More Obama Snubs & Gaffes in Moscow: UPDATE: Michelle’s $6,000 Purse « Frugal Café Blog ZonePresident Obama is not snobbing his father-land, Kenya. He is teaching them a lesson, a lesson for Kenyan to emulate countries like Ghana in Africa. They need to respect the voice of their people and the resources of their citizens. African countries in general need to eshew corruption and stubbornness to rule their people with iron-hands. Thevices are bringing down Africa, and they have been bringing down the continent for decades.
- Posted by MorrisWake up Africans! Wake up leaders of motherland!
[...] Pirate’s Cove: Oh, Goody. Obama Ticks Off Brazil, Russia May Base Bombers In Cuba Reuters: Is Obama Snubbing Kenya on Africa trip? GavinSucks.com: Obama Snub Still Rubs Newsom Phantom17’s Blog: Brown faces humiliation after [...]
- Posted by Screwball Comedy: White House Misspells Barack Obama’s Name on US-Russian Document, Plus More Obama Snubs & Gaffes in Moscow « Frugal Café Blog ZonePresident Obama’s stance about “good governance” in the African countries is very timely and very perfect remark to impress investors, but who among those African Leaders has the WILL to serve and end poverty for their people? Who cares about investors anyway, there is plenty of wealth in our natural resources in Africa to loot from! Whether investors come or go, the leaders in power (some, if not most) as long as they fill their own pockets with loot from their starving citizens, it makes no difference, they all make sure before their term of office end, they have more than enough in outside banks, mansions to rent to diplomats and bank their rents outside African, have their friends, children relatives go shopping spree and go to UK, Paris or USA for a toothache treatments only for shopping spree.There no medicines in government hospitals, no education materials in government schools while teachers are underpaid, simply because they can afford to send their children abroad.
- Posted by KibibiThe evils perpetuated by our African leaders against their own people who voted them in office are bottomless.
Only God knows and will end this torture by touching their hearts that “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH” change their heart.