Did the Ghanaian Media miss the point?

Obama and family arrived in Ghana on June 10

During his recent visit to Ghana, which was his first visit to sub-Saharan Africa since he became the president of the US, President Barack Obama used the occasion to make a policy statement on Africa. This he did in a speech to Ghana's Parliament on 11th July 2009. Obama's speech focused on four areas; highlights as we see relevant to Ghana are outlined below.

Democracy and Corruption
Obama said “No country is going to create wealth if its leaders exploit the economy to enrich themselves, or if the 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, even if occasionally you sprinkle an election in there. And now is the time for that style of governance to end”. He also projected that in the 21st century, capable, reliable and transparent institutions are the key to success – strong parliaments; honest police forces; independent judges; an independent press; etc are the things that give life to democracy because that is what matters in people's everyday lives. “…Africa doesn't need strongmen, it needs strong institutions.”

Obama promised that America will focus on supporting good governance – they will support parliaments which check abuses of power and ensure that opposition voices are heard; on the rule of law which ensures equal administration of justice; on civic participation so that young people get involved; and on concrete solutions to corruption like forensic accounting and automating services, strengthening hotlines, protecting whistle-blowers to advance transparency and accountability.

Opportunity for more people
Obama agrees that we have talent and the proof is the extraordinary success of Africans in America. Obviously, the big question is why do the same talents not succeed here at home? Obama cited the same examples that many Ghanaians have cited in the past which is the examples from South Korea to Singapore. The key phrase in this area from Obama is “develop a skilled workforce”. I believe he is talking about skills that will make us, the young people succeed here in Ghana. Are we training our people at all levels with the skills that they need in order to take the opportunities that abound here in Ghana?

Obama urges the wealthy nations to open their doors to goods and services from Africa in a meaningful way. If these doors should be opened, are we in Ghana ready to enter them?

Public Health
Obama outlined America's commitment to partner us to invest in public health because he believes that just as governance is vital to opportunity, it's also critical to strengthening public health. He is clear on America's support and partnership in strengthening public health will continue.

Peaceful resolution of conflict
When you listen to this part of Obama's speech, you cannot but admit and agree with him that, in this 21st century, there is no place for defining oneself in opposition to someone who belongs to a different tribe, or who worships a different prophet; and that our diversity should be a source of strength and not a cause for division. As he said, it is far too easy for those without conscience to manipulate whole communities into fighting among faiths and tribes. These facts apply to the conflict situations that we have currently in Ghana and we must not make the mistake of looking elsewhere.

Between Sunday 12th July 2009 and Monday 13th July 2009, President Obama's strong and unambiguous message was headlined directly, strongly and almost unanimously by the foreign media as illustrated by a few examples below. On the contrary, the Ghanaian media almost unanimously had completely different headlines that missed the highlights of Obama's message.

Headlines of Foreign Media
1. BBC: Tough love - “Brother” Obama speaks straight to Africa's heart.

2. The Guardian, UK: Barack Obama said today that the continent of his ancestors must overcome tyranny and conflict if it is to flourish.

3. Financial Times: Barack Obama urged Africans to take charge of their own destiny.

4. New York Times: Barack Obama brought a message of tough love: American aid must be moulded by Africa's responsibility for its own problems

5. Washington Post: Barack Obama called on people of the often troubled continent to seize control of their future by building strong democratic institutions and eliminating corruption.

Headlines of Ghanaian Media
1. Daily Graphic: Hail Ghana - The New face of Africa.

2. The Insight: Tussle over Ghana's Oil - Who gets what.

3. Public Agenda: Parliament asks Obama for support: - ..Policy analysts tasks him to curb tax evasion by US firms.

4. The Daily Democrat: Give life to democracy – Obama urges Africa leaders.

5. The Independent: Obama honours Ghana's press – Praises Anas A. Anas.

6. The Daily Dispatch: Financial loss of $750m in GT/Vodafone deal?

7. Daily Guide: Obama eats Kenkey. NDC boys thrown out

8. The Ghanaian Times: Obama declares – No Aid for Corrupt Governments.

Following from these Headlines of the Ghanaian Media, many radio and TV talks tended to focus on the small issues such as ministers talking photographs so protocol was shabby.

We think that the key import of Obama's message is his promise that in the four areas he focused on, America will support and partner Ghana if only we set our agenda right. We strongly urge our government to lead forums throughout the country to open discussions on these areas and solicit ideas from Ghanaians, old and young irrespective of gender, political, religious or tribal affiliations on what our agenda should be and how we will implement our ideas so that America can support and partner us to develop Ghana.

Did the Ghanaian Media miss the point?

Credit: EK Akoto and GMK Opoku
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