Marrying Change with Development

It seemed like a marriage affair between the President of the United States and the President of the Republic of Ghana. There was excitement, enthusiasm and a euphoric atmosphere in Ghana which was done the honours with the graceful presence of a ‘political celebrity’, the 44th president of the United States of America, the first black president of the US, Barack Hussein Obama.


Previously, the two political figures concentrated on “Change” as the key communication strategy to take over power from their political opponents, which indeed worked for them. A careful analysis from these two scenarios is not in themselves similar. First, many believe that Barack Obama won the elections by his sheer ability to persuade and inspire Americans, that in the darkest of their hours (financial crisis, a planet in peril and two great wars) he had the audacity to hope and work to bring progress to the United States. He made America understand deeply that men should not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. He used his good self as a case study for the country he sought to serve.


President Professor Atta Mills on the other hand won the elections by a slim margin: just around 20,000 votes separated the two competing parties. Many Ghanaians think that their use of propaganda gave them the victory. Now, both Obama and Mills are the presidents of the US and Ghana respectively.


There is a very clear signal from Ghana that it is prepared to nurture her democracy no matter what. She attracted commendations from the west when power was handed over to the opposition on January 7 2009. The US has seen this great progress that Ghana is making to entrench democracy and the rule of law. No doubt that Barack Obama decided to visit the country over his country of his father. The international media made capital out of this. Why? This is because Africa has consistently been seen as a thriving ground for nepotism: we prefer to employ ‘family’ instead of competence.


There have been numerous criticisms about the local protocol arrangements in Ghana. Many Ghanaians have expressed dissatisfaction about how security was handled by the Ghana Police force. Ghanaians were not given the opportunity to catch a glimpse of Obama. Only a few Ghanaians managed to see him. Principal roads were blocked, which for many was unnecessary. At the airport during his arrival, it was clear that people were not checked to bring events into order. I think that the presence of Obama overwhelmed every Ghanaian; individuals, organizers and politicians alike. We must learn from our mistakes in order not to repeat them.
Chiefs in Cape Coast were even denied to get into the Palace he was to visit to get the opportunity to meet or even see Obama. This was a blot on our escutcheon as an African country with rich cultural heritage. We have disrespected and insulted our own identity, heritage and our sense of culture.


My deepest concern is the way and manner our own politicians (ministers, parliamentarians, and other invited guests) jumbled to shake Obama after his presentation of the Policy Statement for Africa. I wonder whether they got the messages loud and clear. If indeed they got the messages right, I am afraid their body language spoke otherwise. Why did our own leaders not see themselves as counterparts, but rather inferior and fanatic to another president? President Mills’s body language was not the best for a president hosting his counterpart. I have to say with all apologies that he was totally lost during the interactions Obama had with the invited guests during the breakfast meeting at the castle, Osu.


Ex President J.J. Rawlings shocked Ghanaians when he revealed his professional camera to take photographs of Obama. It was to the dismay of many who believe that such statesmen necessarily carry their paparazzi to such august events. It would not have become a big deal if he had used a small digital camera to do what he had wished to do.


Aside all these, the critical areas that Obama outlined give Ghana and Africa an opportunity to embark on transformation change. Democracy, Opportunity, Health and Peaceful Conflict Resolution are the key areas that the US is focusing on in Africa. The US has committed billions of dollars to this course. But Obama cautioned: “Aid is not an end in itself”. I want to believe that African leaders heard and perfectly understood this.


I was inspired by the encouragement Obama gave young Africans. He sounded like a preacher. He said that young people must know that they have the power to hold their leaders accountable; young people can conquer diseases; young people can live their dreams right here in Africa. He has reminded us (young people) that we are capable of transforming Africa into a better place in the future. Instead of saying, young people are unemployed, lack opportunities and face countless challenges in Africa, he says, young people can do this and can do that. YES WE CAN.


In all these, President Mills needs to marry change with development just as his counterpart, Obama is doing. This is not the change we seek but an opportunity to effect change in Ghana and Africa as a whole.