“Africa doesn’t need strongmen, it needs strong institutions.” President Barack Obama said in his message in Africa.

In his speech to the Ghanaian parliament on Saturday, President Obama sent a message of hope for the future of the African continent. He spoke of his own connection to Africa’s long history, saying, “[My father] came of age at a moment of extraordinary promise for Africa. The struggles of his own father's generation were giving birth to new nations, beginning right here in Ghana.” But, he emphasized “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…. To realize that promise, we must first recognize a fundamental truth that… 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.

This message of hope was an important theme in a long address that covered everything from colonialism, to democratic governance, to ending conflict on the continent.

The president’s choice of Ghana, as opposed to a more regionally powerful country like Nigeria or Kenya, gives an important indication of his future direction in Africa. In an interview with allafrica.com, Obama explained that he chose Ghana because he wanted to highlight Ghana’s record of democracy and good governance. He emphasized the Obama administration’s belief in “the direct correlation between governance and prosperity. In his Saturday speech, Obama focused heavily on the importance of good governance in Africa, “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.

Democracy, President Obama said, “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.  He added: “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.”

On the example of Ghana, he said, “The people of Ghana have worked hard to put democracy on a firmer footing.” However, despite his praise of Ghana, Obama was critical of the overall state of democracy in Africa today. While he recognized the colonial legacy that put African countries at an initial disadvantage, he made it clear that African countries need to take responsibility for their own problems. He expressed a commitment to a partnership between Africa and the United States based on mutual responsibility, promising “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.

Since its return to multi party democracy in 1992, Ghana has held five peaceful elections. Although the most recent national elections were hotly contested, in the end the runner-up conceded, leading to peaceful transition of power. While Ghana is among the most successful democracies in Africa, it still shares many of the challenges of other African states. Many in the country worry over increased ethnic politics, and the state system is still dominated by a too-powerful executive branch. This could be especially damaging to the country in the future, as the government will be managing new oil revenues.

Before his visit to Ghana, Obama traveled to Italy for the G8 summit, where he and other G8 leaders took part in a working breakfast with representatives from Angola, Algeria, Nigeria, Senegal, Ethiopia, and Libya. He says that his choice to visit Africa shortly after the summit was intentional, to “show that Africa is directly connected to our entire foreign policy approach. He expressed this sentiment again during his speech, saying, “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 we want for all of our children.

Equally important is the shift announced in the US foreign Aid.  “The purpose of foreign assistance must be creating the conditions where it is no longer needed. As for America, [the] commitment must be measured by more than just the dollars we spend.  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.”  He then announced that his administration will “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 hotlines, and protecting whistle-blowers to advance transparency and accountability.

The IIJD has long been committed to the belief that development is directly tied to democracy and good governance. However, most aid programs, including those funded by the US government, avoid the difficult issue of government reform in favor of initiatives that address the symptoms of poverty and not their causes. It appears that with this first visit to Ghana, President Obama is attempting to change that focus. Joining the IIJD in calling institutions reform in Africa, he expressed repeatedly his conviction that bad governance and undemocratic institutions are at the heart of Africa’s development problems. The president also mentioned the importance of the justice system in governance, mentioning the need for an honest police force, independent judges, and “the rule of law, which ensures the equal administration of justice. The IIJD of course approves of President Obama’s enthusiasm to address the issue of governance in Africa, and calls on the US Congress to adopt its resolution making institution reform and the establishment of independent justice systems a priority in addressing the underlying causes of persistent poverty and development crises in Africa.

We hope that it signifies a shift in the future priorities of US aid programs. However, some leading academics have expressed discontent over Obama’s failure to address specific policy measures. It remains to be seen whether Obama’s vision for Africa is merely a symbolic statement, or the beginning of a shift in the US’ Africa policy. Either way, the IIJD will continue to pursue its mission of reforming African justice systems and promoting systemic reform, rule of law and hopes to contribute its expertise to a future United States initiative to promote good governance in Africa.

1. Obama’s Address to the Ghanaian Parliament http://allafrica.com/stories/200907110013.html
2. “US wants to spotlight ‘effective models’ and be an ‘effective partner’-Obama” http://allafrica.com/stories/200907021302.html?page=2
3. Obama’s address to the Ghanaian Parliament.
4. Barack Obama in Ghana
5. Obama’s Address to the Ghanaian Parliament http://allafrica.com/stories/200907110013.html
6. “Ghana Visit to Highlight Effective Governance, says Obama” http://allafrica.com/stories/200907030001.html
7. Obama’s Address to the Ghanaian Parliament http://allafrica.com/stories/200907110013.html
8. President Barack Obama in Ghana
9. Obama’s Address to the Ghanaian Parliament http://allafrica.com/stories/200907110013.html