Ghanaian Parliament that “ 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 .
Africa doesn ' t need strongmen , it needs strong institutions . 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 . We should stop blaming colonialism for our under-development . We really need to address issues of governance , because I believe it is the mediocrity with which Africa has been governed that is responsible for our backwardness today .”
Only a son of Africa can make such statements . Only a United States President with deep roots in Africa can identify with Africa . Moreover , the President has been very much engaged in African issues . It was President Obama that led the charge against Libyan dictator Gaddafi and his ultimate demise . Recently , when rebels overran the Eastern Congo town of Goma , President Obama simply picked up the phone and asked President Paul Kagame of Rwanda who supports the rebels to ask them to withdraw , and the often nonchalant Kagame had no choice but to comply . With four more years in office , President Obama has time to visit more African countries . For now , Africa has to continue to support democratic institutions which will lead it to economic independence , something that will make all Africans , including US President Barak Obama , happy .
Jacob Sax Conteh , M . Ed ., Virginia , USA
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