Why Obama’s Ghana Speech Comes at a Time of New Hope for Africa

DEVELOPMENTS

President Obama went to Ghana this past July on his first visit to sub-Saharan Africa since becoming president.  Obama chose to visit Ghana partly because it is a stable democratic country, with a growing economy relatively free of political corruption.  The choice conveyed his message that the continent had the potential to overcome the corruption and mismanagement that holds back much of the region and that frustrates major aid donors and potential foreign investors.  Comments concerning poor governance from previous U.S. presidents have sometimes been seen as paternalistic.  But by complimenting Ghana’s progress, and through the perceived credibility that comes with having a cultural connection to the continent, by virtue of his Kenyan father, Obama conveyed a message that has been met with a rapturous response on the ground in Africa.

Many in the international community have wrongly mislabeled Africa as a failed continent.  Certainly, there are several parts of the continent that are well known for their dependence on foreign aid agencies and international donor conferences.  In the past, many Africans felt the U.S. lacked the moral authority to criticize African governance because of a long history of inconsistent support for democracy and accountability compared to other U.S. strategic interests.  These perceptions brought about a general sense that U.S. governments were indifferent to Africa and its needs.  Many of these assumptions appear to have evaporated with the election of Mr. Obama.  

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