Text of Obama's speech in Ghana
By  The Associated Press  –  1 hour ago 
Text of President Barack Obama's speech Saturday in Accra, Ghana, as prepared for delivery and provided by the White House:___Good
morning. It is an honor for me to be in Accra, and to speak to the
representatives of the people of Ghana. I am deeply grateful for the
welcome that I've received, as are Michelle, Malia and Sasha Obama.
Ghana's history is rich, the ties between our two countries are strong,
and I am proud that this is my first visit to sub-Saharan Africa as
President of the United States.I am speaking to you at the end
of a long trip. I began in Russia, for a Summit between two great
powers. I traveled to Italy, for a meeting of the world's leading
economies. And I have come here, to Ghana, for a simple reason: the
21st century will be shaped by what happens not just in Rome or Moscow
or Washington, but by what happens in Accra as well.This is the
simple truth of a time when the boundaries between people are
overwhelmed by our connections. Your prosperity can expand America's.
Your health and security can contribute to the world's. And the
strength of your democracy can help advance human rights for people
everywhere.So I do not see the countries and peoples of Africa
as a world apart; I see Africa as a fundamental part of our
interconnected world — as partners with America on behalf of the future
that we want for all our children. That partnership must be grounded in
mutual responsibility, and that is what I want to speak with you about
today.We must start from the simple premise that Africa's future is up to Africans.I
say this knowing full well the tragic past that has sometimes haunted
this part of the world. I have the blood of Africa within me, and my
family's own story encompasses both the tragedies and triumphs of the
larger African story.My grandfather was a cook for the British
in Kenya, and though he was a respected elder in his village, his
employers called him "boy" for much of his life. He was on the
periphery of Kenya's liberation struggles, but he was still imprisoned
briefly during repressive times. In his life, colonialism wasn't simply
the creation of unnatural borders or unfair terms of trade — it was
something experienced personally, day after day, year after year.My
father grew up herding goats in a tiny village, an impossible distance
away from the American universities where he would come to get an
education. He came of age at an extraordinary moment of promise for
Africa. The struggles of his own father's generation were giving birth
to new nations, beginning right here in Ghana. Africans were educating
and asserting themselves in new ways. History was on the move.But
despite the progress that has been made — and there has been
considerable progress in parts of Africa — we also know that much of
that promise has yet to be fulfilled. Countries like Kenya, which had a
per capita economy larger than South Korea's when I was born, have been
badly outpaced. Disease and conflict have ravaged parts of the African
continent. In many places, the hope of my father's generation gave way
to cynicism, even despair.It is easy to point fingers, and to
pin the blame for these problems on others. Yes, a colonial map that
made little sense bred conflict, and the West has often approached
Africa as a patron, rather than a partner. But 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. In my
father's life, it was partly tribalism and patronage in an independent
Kenya that for a long stretch derailed his career, and we know that
this kind of corruption is a daily fact of life for far too many.Of
course, we also know that is not the whole story. Here in Ghana, you
show us a face of Africa that is too often overlooked by a world that
sees only tragedy or the need for charity. The people of Ghana have
worked hard to put democracy on a firmer footing, with peaceful
transfers of power even in the wake of closely contested elections. And
with improved governance and an emerging civil society, Ghana's economy
has shown impressive rates of growth.This progress may lack the
drama of the 20th century's liberation struggles, but make no mistake:
it will ultimately be more significant. For just as it is important to
emerge from the control of another nation, it is even more important to
build one's own.So I believe that this moment is just as
promising for Ghana — and for Africa — as the moment when my father
came of age and new nations were being born. This is a new moment of
promise. Only this time, we have learned that it will not be giants
like Nkrumah and Kenyatta who will determine Africa's future. Instead,
it will be you — the men and women in Ghana's Parliament, and the
people you represent. Above all, it will be the young people — brimming
with talent and energy and hope — who can claim the future that so many
in my father's generation never found.To realize that promise,
we must first recognize a fundamental truth that you have given life to
in Ghana: development depends upon good governance. That is the
ingredient which has been missing in far too many places, for far too
long. That is the change that can unlock Africa's potential. And that
is a responsibility that can only be met by Africans.As for
America and the West, our commitment must be measured by more than just
the dollars we spend. I have pledged substantial increases in our
foreign assistance, which is in Africa's interest and America's. But
the true sign of success is not whether we are a source of aid that
helps people scrape by — it is whether we are partners in building the
capacity for transformational change.This mutual responsibility
must be the foundation of our partnership. And today, I will focus on
four areas that are critical to the future of Africa and the entire
developing world: democracy; opportunity; health; and the peaceful
resolution of conflict.First, we must support strong and sustainable democratic governments.As
I said in Cairo, each nation gives life to democracy in its own way,
and in line with its own traditions. But history offers a clear
verdict: governments that respect the will of their own people are more
prosperous, more stable and more successful than governments that do
not.This is about more than holding elections — it's also about
what happens between them. Repression takes many forms, and too many
nations are plagued by problems that condemn their people to poverty.
No country is going to create wealth if its leaders exploit the economy
to enrich themselves, or police can be bought off by drug traffickers.
No business wants to invest in a place where the government skims 20
percent off the top, or the head of the port authority is corrupt. 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, and now is the time for it to end.In the 21st century,
capable, reliable and transparent institutions are the key to success —
strong parliaments and honest police forces; independent judges and
journalists; a vibrant private sector and civil society. Those are the
things that give life to democracy, because that is what matters in
peoples' lives.Time and again, Ghanaians have chosen
Constitutional rule over autocracy, and shown a democratic spirit that
allows the energy of your people to break through. We see that in
leaders who accept defeat graciously, and victors who resist calls to
wield power against the opposition. We see that spirit in courageous
journalists like Anas Aremeyaw Anas, who risked his life to report the
truth. We see it in police like Patience Quaye, who helped prosecute
the first human trafficker in Ghana. We see it in the young people who
are speaking up against patronage and participating in the political
process.Across Africa, we have seen countless examples of people
taking control of their destiny and making change from the bottom up.
We saw it in Kenya, where civil society and business came together to
help stop postelection violence. We saw it in South Africa, where over
three quarters of the country voted in the recent election — the fourth
since the end of apartheid. We saw it in Zimbabwe, where the Election
Support Network braved brutal repression to stand up for the principle
that a person's vote is their sacred right.Make no mistake:
history is on the side of these brave Africans and not with those who
use coups or change Constitutions to stay in power. Africa doesn't need
strongmen, it needs strong institutions.America 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. What
we will do is increase assistance for responsible individuals and
institutions, with a focus on supporting good governance — on
parliaments, which check abuses of power and ensure that opposition
voices are heard; on the rule of law, which ensures the equal
administration of justice; on civic participation, so that young people
get involved; and on concrete solutions to corruption like forensic
accounting, automating services, strengthening hot lines and protecting
whistle-blowers to advance transparency and accountability.As we
provide this support, I have directed my administration to give greater
attention to corruption in our human rights report. People everywhere
should have the right to start a business or get an education without
paying a bribe. We have a responsibility to support those who act
responsibly and to isolate those who don't, and that is exactly what
America will do.This leads directly to our second area of partnership — supporting development that provides opportunity for more people.With
better governance, I have no doubt that Africa holds the promise of a
broader base for prosperity. The continent is rich in natural
resources. And from cell phone entrepreneurs to small farmers, Africans
have shown the capacity and commitment to create their own
opportunities. But old habits must also be broken. Dependence on
commodities — or on a single export — concentrates wealth in the hands
of the few and leaves people too vulnerable to downturns.In
Ghana, for instance, oil brings great opportunities, and you have been
responsible in preparing for new revenue. But as so many Ghanaians
know, oil cannot simply become the new cocoa. From South Korea to
Singapore, history shows that countries thrive when they invest in
their people and infrastructure; when they promote multiple export
industries, develop a skilled work force and create space for small and
medium-sized businesses that create jobs.As Africans reach for
this promise, America will be more responsible in extending our hand.
By cutting costs that go to Western consultants and administration, we
will put more resources in the hands of those who need it, while
training people to do more for themselves. That is why our $3.5 billion
food security initiative is focused on new methods and technologies for
farmers — not simply sending American producers or goods to Africa. Aid
is not an end in itself. The purpose of foreign assistance must be
creating the conditions where it is no longer needed.America can
also do more to promote trade and investment. Wealthy nations must open
our doors to goods and services from Africa in a meaningful way. And
where there is good governance, we can broaden prosperity through
public-private partnerships that invest in better roads and
electricity; capacity-building that trains people to grow a business;
and financial services that reach poor and rural areas. This is also in
our own interest — for if people are lifted out of poverty and wealth
is created in Africa, new markets will open for our own goods.One
area that holds out both undeniable peril and extraordinary promise is
energy. Africa gives off less greenhouse gas than any other part of the
world, but it is the most threatened by climate change. A warming
planet will spread disease, shrink water resources and deplete crops,
creating conditions that produce more famine and conflict. All of us —
particularly the developed world — have a responsibility to slow these
trends — through mitigation, and by changing the way that we use
energy. But we can also work with Africans to turn this crisis into
opportunity.Together, we can partner on behalf of our planet and
prosperity and help countries increase access to power while skipping
the dirtier phase of development. Across Africa, there is bountiful
wind and solar power; geothermal energy and bio-fuels. From the Rift
Valley to the North African deserts; from the Western coast to South
Africa's crops — Africa's boundless natural gifts can generate its own
power, while exporting profitable, clean energy abroad.These
steps are about more than growth numbers on a balance sheet. They're
about whether a young person with an education can get a job that
supports a family; a farmer can transfer their goods to the market; or
an entrepreneur with a good idea can start a business. It's about the
dignity of work. Its about the opportunity that must exist for Africans
in the 21st century.Just as governance is vital to opportunity,
it is also critical to the third area that I will talk about —
strengthening public health.In recent years, enormous progress
has been made in parts of Africa. Far more people are living
productively with HIV/AIDS, and getting the drugs they need. But too
many still die from diseases that shouldn't kill them. When children
are being killed because of a mosquito bite, and mothers are dying in
childbirth, then we know that more progress must be made.Yet
because of incentives — often provided by donor nations — many African
doctors and nurses understandably go overseas, or work for programs
that focus on a single disease. This creates gaps in primary care and
basic prevention. Meanwhile, individual Africans also have to make
responsible choices that prevent the spread of disease, while promoting
public health in their communities and countries.Across Africa,
we see examples of people tackling these problems. In Nigeria, an
interfaith effort of Christians and Muslims has set an example of
cooperation to confront malaria. Here in Ghana and across Africa, we
see innovative ideas for filling gaps in care — for instance, through
E-Health initiatives that allow doctors in big cities to support those
in small towns.America will support these efforts through a
comprehensive, global health strategy. Because in the 21st century, we
are called to act by our conscience and our common interest. When a
child dies of a preventable illness in Accra, that diminishes us
everywhere. And when disease goes unchecked in any corner of the world,
we know that it can spread across oceans and continents.That is
why my administration has committed $63 billion to meet these
challenges. Building on the strong efforts of President Bush, we will
carry forward the fight against HIV/AIDS. We will pursue the goal of
ending deaths from malaria and tuberculosis, and eradicating polio. We
will fight neglected tropical disease. And we won't confront illnesses
in isolation — we will invest in public health systems that promote
wellness and focus on the health of mothers and children.As we
partner on behalf of a healthier future, we must also stop the
destruction that comes not from illness, but from human beings — and so
the final area that I will address is conflict.Now let me be
clear: Africa is not the crude caricature of a continent at war. But
for far too many Africans, conflict is a part of life, as constant as
the sun. There are wars over land and wars over resources. And it is
still far too easy for those without conscience to manipulate whole
communities into fighting among faiths and tribes.These
conflicts are a millstone around Africa's neck. We all have many
identities — of tribe and ethnicity; of religion and nationality. But
defining oneself in opposition to someone who belongs to a different
tribe, or who worships a different prophet, has no place in the 21st
century. Africa's diversity should be a source of strength, not a cause
for division. We are all God's children. We all share common
aspirations — to live in peace and security; to access education and
opportunity; to love our families, our communities, and our faith. That
is our common humanity.That is why we must stand up to
inhumanity in our midst. It is never justifiable to target innocents in
the name of ideology. It is the death sentence of a society to force
children to kill in wars. It is the ultimate mark of criminality and
cowardice to condemn women to relentless and systematic rape. We must
bear witness to the value of every child in Darfur and the dignity of
every woman in Congo. No faith or culture should condone the outrages
against them. All of us must strive for the peace and security
necessary for progress.Africans are standing up for this future.
Here, too, Ghana is helping to point the way forward. Ghanaians should
take pride in your contributions to peacekeeping from Congo to Liberia
to Lebanon, and in your efforts to resist the scourge of the drug
trade. We welcome the steps that are being taken by organizations like
the African Union and ECOWAS to better resolve conflicts, keep the
peace, and support those in need. And we encourage the vision of a
strong, regional security architecture that can bring effective,
transnational force to bear when needed.America has a
responsibility to advance this vision, not just with words, but with
support that strengthens African capacity. When there is genocide in
Darfur or terrorists in Somalia, these are not simply African problems
— they are global security challenges, and they demand a global
response. That is why we stand ready to partner through diplomacy,
technical assistance, and logistical support, and will stand behind
efforts to hold war criminals accountable. And let me be clear: our
Africa Command is focused not on establishing a foothold in the
continent, but on confronting these common challenges to advance the
security of America, Africa and the world.In Moscow, I spoke of
the need for an international system where the universal rights of
human beings are respected, and violations of those rights are opposed.
That must include a commitment to support those who resolve conflicts
peacefully, to sanction and stop those who don't, and to help those who
have suffered. But ultimately, it will be vibrant democracies like
Botswana and Ghana which roll back the causes of conflict, and advance
the frontiers of peace and prosperity.As I said earlier, Africa's future is up to Africans.The
people of Africa are ready to claim that future. In my country,
African-Americans — including so many recent immigrants — have thrived
in every sector of society. We have done so despite a difficult past,
and we have drawn strength from our African heritage. With strong
institutions and a strong will, I know that Africans can live their
dreams in Nairobi and Lagos; in Kigali and Kinshasa; in Harare and
right here in Accra.Fifty-two years ago, the eyes of the world
were on Ghana. And a young preacher named Martin Luther King traveled
here, to Accra, to watch the Union Jack come down and the Ghanaian flag
go up. This was before the march on Washington or the success of the
civil rights movement in my country. Dr. King was asked how he felt
while watching the birth of a nation. And he said: "It renews my
conviction in the ultimate triumph of justice."Now, that triumph
must be won once more, and it must be won by you. And I am particularly
speaking to the young people. In places like Ghana, you make up over
half of the population. Here is what you must know: the world will be
what you make of it.You have the power to hold your leaders
accountable and to build institutions that serve the people. You can
serve in your communities and harness your energy and education to
create new wealth and build new connections to the world. You can
conquer disease, end conflicts and make change from the bottom up. You
can do that. Yes you can. Because in this moment, history is on the
move.But these things can only be done if you take
responsibility for your future. It won't be easy. It will take time and
effort. There will be suffering and setbacks. But I can promise you
this: America will be with you. As a partner. As a friend. Opportunity
won't come from any other place, though — it must come from the
decisions that you make, the things that you do, and the hope that you
hold in your hearts.Freedom is your inheritance. Now, it is your
responsibility to build upon freedom's foundation. And if you do, we
will look back years from now to places like Accra and say that this
was the time when the promise was realized — this was the moment when
prosperity was forged; pain was overcome; and a new era of progress
began. This can be the time when we witness the triumph of justice once
more. Thank you.





Copyright ©  2009   The Associated Press. All rights reserved.





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