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| Obama Speech: Your Reaction | Obama Speech: Your Reaction |
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| 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 |
| It's a welcome sentiment, but it's been made before. Africans are all too aware of the magnitude of the institutional corruption in many countries, and the dependency on outside powers that lingers. Africans need to look towards regional groupings like SADC and the AU as legitimate agents of power, and not the problematic and often-illegitimate state structures that were borne out of European colonies. Col Gaddafi's speeches on African unity get to the heart of the issue, much more than Obama's thoughts on electoral democratic systems.LP, London, UK | |
| President Obama's speech is an assertive pointer to the many failures of African Governments to deliver dividends of democracy to their subjects. Corruption among our leaders, more than anything else, has been the plague that has reduced Africa to nothing. Of course, no foreign power can come to shape the destiny of Africa and Africans. We must begin to hold our leaders accountable, and ensure that government is transparent. Godwin Orga, Makurdi, Nigeria | |
| Corruption in Africa amounts to more than all the foreign debt of the 50+ African countries. Obama urged an end to corruption, an emphasis on democracy, an emphasis on education, and is a superb role model for generations of Africans. I'm so glad he's my president.Sarah, Albuquerque, NM, USA | |
| I think he talked down to Africans, even if he had some valid points. Let's not forget that the current world crisis was caused by greedy and corrupt people and system in the USA and other so-called developed and democratic countries. The crisis which has affected all of us was not caused by corruption in Africa. So, my message to the Physician is: Heal thyself first!Sadiq Manzan, New York, USA | |
| Obama was spot on. The western world is not interested in seeing Africa develop. We must take our destiny in our own hands. We can do it if we get a committed leadership which has been lacking after the independence struggles. Let's hold our leaders accountable. I have always believed in Africa but for our greedy and power drunk leaders and their get rich quick cohorts. Let all hands be on deck from today, please. Yes we can.Robert, Apam, Ghana, Apam, Ghana | |
| I do think that president Obama, did a good speech, to be honest the truth should be told, the leaders of the continent of Africa needs to hear the truth. I would like to say Bravo to Mr Obama, he really hit the nail on the head. Africans should responsibility of their own affairs.Emmanel Onwuegbusi, Balbriggan Republic of Ireland | |
| It's hard to expect that Africa will get more money from USA or other rich countries during this economical recession, so I think the less money Africa will get, the bigger slump will be of Obama popularity as a president of HOPE.Waidzius, Lithuania | |
| Obama speaks truth with integrity even when that is uncomfortable. He is wise and honest.Jack Mackintosh, New York City, USA | |
| Finally we have a President who knows that Africa is not a country. President Obama speaks with clarity and conviction and will now include Africa with its vast resources to participate in the global economy. It's about time. Now gas and oil prices will go down once they are able to participate.Godfather05, Inglewood, CA | Finally we have a President who knows that Africa is not a country. President Obama speaks with clarity and conviction and will now include Africa with its vast resources to participate in the global economy. It's about time. Now gas and oil prices will go down once they are able to participate.Godfather05, Inglewood, CA |
| Enough with the talkin'. Lets get to the real work.Max Conrad, Malta | Enough with the talkin'. Lets get to the real work.Max Conrad, Malta |
| 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 |