Obama's Victory Shames Africa

This article by Prof. George Ayittey strikes at the heart of what this blog is all about. It crystallises the dire need for a fresh and new approach to African leadership and governance. It gives a sense of urgency to the plight of nearly a billion people in Africa. Prof. Ayittey, in his own way gives clear and distinct advice to President elect Obama and his soon to be new administration and cabinet members dealing with Africa and African politics, economics and governance.

I like the following points that he (as do many Africans) feel are absolutely essential for Africa and Africans:

• An independent central bank: to assure monetary and economic stability, as well as stanch capital flight out of Africa. Witness Zimbabwe where the rate of inflation is 11 million percent - whatever that means. It even ran out of paper on which to print the currency.
• An independent judiciary -- essential for the rule of law.
• A free and independent media to ensure free flow of information. Get the media out of the hands of corrupt and incompetent governments in Africa.
• An independent Electoral Commission to ensure free and fair elections.
• An efficient and professional civil service to deliver essential social services to the people on the basis of need and not on the basis of ethnicity or political affiliation.
• The establishment of a neutral and professional armed and security forces.
  

Prof. Ayittey concludes: "Give Africans these institutions and they themselves will do the rest of the job of cleaning up the continent".

I totally concur with his statement. The only question I raise about the article is the fact that Prof. Ayittey, in the same article states that: Obama should set an example for African leaders, as Nelson Mandela did, and only serve one term. Here, I beg to differ with him. It is up to Africans and African leaders to follow the example of the Democratic rights of the American people that brought Mr. Obama to power. The process that brought Mr. Obama to power and the peaceful transfer of power that will be concluded on January 20, 2009 should be enough as an example to Africa's dictators. If they can observe and learn, that will be a miracle in itself. Overall, I enjoyed reading his article, as I am sure you will. So read on... by clicking on the link above.