This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/talking_point/africa_have_your_say/8137307.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Obama Speech: Your Reaction | Obama Speech: Your Reaction |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The President and First Lady are expected to draw huge crowds to Accra | The President and First Lady are expected to draw huge crowds to Accra |
| US President Barack Obama has said Africa must take charge of its own destiny in the world. Do you agree? | US President Barack Obama has said Africa must take charge of its own destiny in the world. Do you agree? |
| President Obama, on his first official visit to sub-Saharan Africa, has made a powerful call for Africans to stand up for their democratic rights. | President Obama, on his first official visit to sub-Saharan Africa, has made a powerful call for Africans to stand up for their democratic rights. |
| He said Africa could have a prosperous future and promised American aid to fight the continent's diseases, conflicts and lack of development. | He said Africa could have a prosperous future and promised American aid to fight the continent's diseases, conflicts and lack of development. |
| Is this a defining moment for the continent? Has President Obama lived up to expectations? And what does this speech say about Africa's place in the world?We would like to hear from you. | Is this a defining moment for the continent? Has President Obama lived up to expectations? And what does this speech say about Africa's place in the world?We would like to hear from you. |
| Read the full story | Read the full story |
| We are currently experiencing technical problems and are unable to update HYS debates. You can email us your comments using the form on the right-hand side and we will publish a selection of the them below. | We are currently experiencing technical problems and are unable to update HYS debates. You can email us your comments using the form on the right-hand side and we will publish a selection of the them below. |
| YOUR COMMENTS | YOUR COMMENTS |
| I like President Obama's speech in that it addressed, without bias, the key issues that face Africa. Now we hope that American foreign policy will reflect his speech. Benyam Stephanos, Seattle | I like President Obama's speech in that it addressed, without bias, the key issues that face Africa. Now we hope that American foreign policy will reflect his speech. Benyam Stephanos, Seattle |
| The money he is giving away is needed HERE! We are losing jobs, homes, etc. Help your own house before you start helping others with our money.Geter Done, Atlanta, GA USA | The money he is giving away is needed HERE! We are losing jobs, homes, etc. Help your own house before you start helping others with our money.Geter Done, Atlanta, GA USA |
| Surely there is no debate! Corruption, wars, lack of education and exploitation by the richer countries all play a part in Africa's plight. Spend money on education and leave Africa to develop without richer nations handing over cash with one hand and taking it back with the other by way of self interest!Crystal Ball, Warsaw | Surely there is no debate! Corruption, wars, lack of education and exploitation by the richer countries all play a part in Africa's plight. Spend money on education and leave Africa to develop without richer nations handing over cash with one hand and taking it back with the other by way of self interest!Crystal Ball, Warsaw |
| Africa, rather African leaders, have received aids from the west, but the aid has filled up the pockets of corrupt leaders and has not benefited African. Unless the aid is carefully monitored and indeed goes to develop Africa, US and Europe should not send any aid. Sima, VA, US | Africa, rather African leaders, have received aids from the west, but the aid has filled up the pockets of corrupt leaders and has not benefited African. Unless the aid is carefully monitored and indeed goes to develop Africa, US and Europe should not send any aid. Sima, VA, US |
| President Obama's speech reiterated the problems confronting Africa over the last half century. He gave us hope to tackle the problems we are well aware of. Besides giving us hope and inspiration, the speech lacked the substance that many were expecting. He did not promise aid or offer the silver bullet to solve the problems he espoused. Obama however offered a challenge of a new era. An era that calls for African solutions to African Problems. We need to take the continents destiny into our own hands and tackle the problems head-on. The foreign aid poured in and we are still running in circles, the Washington drafted policy solutions came and nothing changed, but we on the continent know the problems and their solutions but have lacked the can-do spirit to implement them. My brothers "yes you can" is what President Obama brought to Africa.Ouborr Kutando, Zabzugu Tatale, Ghana | President Obama's speech reiterated the problems confronting Africa over the last half century. He gave us hope to tackle the problems we are well aware of. Besides giving us hope and inspiration, the speech lacked the substance that many were expecting. He did not promise aid or offer the silver bullet to solve the problems he espoused. Obama however offered a challenge of a new era. An era that calls for African solutions to African Problems. We need to take the continents destiny into our own hands and tackle the problems head-on. The foreign aid poured in and we are still running in circles, the Washington drafted policy solutions came and nothing changed, but we on the continent know the problems and their solutions but have lacked the can-do spirit to implement them. My brothers "yes you can" is what President Obama brought to Africa.Ouborr Kutando, Zabzugu Tatale, Ghana |
| I agree we must take our destiny into our own hands. No one but Africans will develop Africa. Anyway I had to walk several kilometres to see my mentor Obama!Mabikina Bitlegma, Accra | |
| Another empty promise from the biggest empty - suiter spender since Carter!!!!!Kevin McQueen, Norwalk, United States | |
| The only reason he went to Ghana is because there is discovery of oil in that part of the world. He also praised them to be truly democratic African state as if Ghana was the only democratic state in the continent. Once again, he is not any different from all the previous US presidents, getting oil no matter what it takes.Anon, Bloemfontein, South Africa | |
| I believe Mr Obama was right in pointing out that helping African farmers supply their own markets with their produce is far better than swamping these markets with subsidized Western crops. This has stared us all in the face for more years than I can count, but selfish interests have kept us from doing better. But - "yes we can" change for the better!Andreas Jaffe, Krefeld, Germany | |
| Obama says that Africa must take charge. If this is truly the case, why is he still promising more aid?Kara Tyson, Mobile, AL, USA |