Obama To Visit Ghana- All About AFRICOM?

NewsRescue- The United States President, Barrack Obama is scheduled in July to visit Ghana in his first visit toafricom sub-Saharan Africa since resuming office [1].  His choice of Ghana and not his fathers homeland,-  Kenya or the democratic Nation- Nigeria, the most populous sub-Saharan African Nation, the lead player in African security and politics and a world major economic contributor, supplying the US one quarter of its oil imports, raises obvious questions. And we do know that he recently visited the constitutional Monarchies of Kuwait and Jordan, where US military bases are present, so it’s not about democracy, which Nigeria, Africa’s Giant has.

Is it all about AFRICOM, the US African central military command… and the fact that ‘black-gold’, oil was just discovered in Ghana? Can the Presidents visit to Africa be centrally hinged on politics and US military interest? Well this is rather a pre-answered question. Of course the choice of nation to visit by the President of the United States must be in his best National interest. The US has never been shy of declaring its untold support for its military campaigns, and this is not less expected with the race with China for increasing economic and military control of fertile Africa.

Related- Ghana News: ‘US can’t force AFRICOM on Ghana’- Ex-presidency Foreign Adviser- Gbeho

The President of Nigeria, Musa Yaradua not too long ago on visit to the United States declared a sort of support for AFRICOM, but shortly after returning to Nigeria he fully retracted this misinterpretation as he called it of his statements in the White house, as being his support of a military presence only if completely controlled and supervised by the African National leaders themselves and only if for training purposes only and not as autonomous bases.  His statement:

“I did not accept AFRICOM in my discussions with Bush. I asked for assistance and told Bush that we have our plans to establish bases for African countries. We asked for training on weapons and training to establish our bases to be managed by our people.” “Seven countries in the Gulf of Guinea will be involved,” he stated. The president said he asked for training from the US government. The US insisted it can only render help through its AFRICOM base in Stuttgart, Germany, said Yar’Adua. In a chat last night with members of the Nigerian press in Washington, DC, Maduekwe said the country’s position on the issue of foreign troops in Africa has always been firm.

“There is no u-turn on the part of Nigeria or the President. Nothing has changed.” “What happened is a clearer articulation of US position. The convergence is that we have had long experience of training and sharing of information and if AFRICOM is about training and cooperation then we have no problem with that component.” “If it is about capacity building, training and logistics we will work with them. But, no country or military is going to come and us like an occupied territory. That will not happen.” “I can promise you that you will not see American soldiers or marines on the streets of Lagos or Abuja or anywhere in Nigeria running around with guns or a building with AFRICOM signpost on it.” Maduekwe said.  [2]

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Ghana AFRICOM

Many African Nations including Botswana, Algeria, Libya, Morocco and South Africa in addition to Nigeria, have declared their full, unambiguous opposition to the AFRICOM US military installations. Ghana on the other hand has been more receptive of AFRICOM and the US looks forward to consolidating and expanding this strategic military presence in that country as we see here in this opinion:

I think the previous US government and the AFRICOM establishment were far more comfortable working with the previous NPP government, not so much for ideological reasons, but because the NPP government was reliably corruptible. And I’m sure AFRICOM, which already has a robust presence, will try to expand in Ghana. The corruption quotient remains to be seen for the new government. I am a little bit optimistic, and very worried. I think the intentions of the present government are good for now, but the drug money and the coming oil money will be powerful forces encouraging corruption. And, with special thanks to the Kufuor government, corruption is seen by many in Ghana as the way government and business “works”. Not that there was no corruption before, but in the last eight years it was encouraged, and grew exponentially.

Drugs were one of the reasons Yates visited Ghana. As I have written before, drugs are the tool AFRICOMobama-troops will use to infiltrate into Ghana. It is thanks to the counter effective US “War on Drugs” that the drug trade has moved to West Africa. The primary beneficiaries of the War on Drugs have been defense and security contractors, the same folks who are looking to AFRICOM for more contracts. [3]

Diminished Role

So the primary question appears to be more than obviously answered. In the twentieth century it’s all about National interest and Military control. The new question is- who needs who more? Does Nigeria need the US more or does the US in its new quest to restore its economy and global image, need help from powerful, rising so-called third world Nations more? As CNN reporter, Fareed Zakaria’s recent book captioned- ‘ The Post American World’ [4], describes- the US  is losing its position as the worlds most powerful Nation, as Countries Like India and China compete with and surpass the US. The US failures in economic and military campaigns have increasingly decreased their importance as world policy determinants, and their might is almost virtually tied to their military capacity and their economic prominence, also almost exclusively to arms sales.  Rising powers like Iran thump their fingers in the US’ face and conglomerate to create powerful alignments. The Non Aligned Nations [5], and the European Union parallel and diminish US role as a major world player.

So perhaps the conclusion of this is that- as the US just did, it is time Africa looks out for its best economic and strategic interests in selecting its alignments… or way past time.

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11 Responses to “Obama To Visit Ghana- All About AFRICOM?”

  1. AK47 says:
    March 11, 2010 at 7:17 am

    How long should Nigeria continue to hope for a better Government? whatever america decides, am in support of it, even if they exploit us, i don’t think it will be as our leaders has exploited us. I beleive we will see some positive changes.
    There is too much suffering in nigeria and all our leaders are evil and develish.
    All i want to see is positive change and nothing more.
    i love america…God bless america

    Reply
  2. Kwame Richmond says:
    July 10, 2009 at 6:19 pm

    Nigerian Leaders are Just afraid of the presence of Americans because of their corrupt and power drunk nature. Every Nigerian claims to be an american. Go to Europe and see how they carry themselves. One thing i s the average Ghanaian is smarter thsn the Nigerian while the Nigerian is more of the Schrewd type. Ghana makes her own decision and no other country dare interfer. I will trust the Americans more the the Arabs of africa. Egypt Morroco…

    Reply
  3. Paul I. Adujie says:
    July 10, 2009 at 8:51 am

    I am losing faith in Mr. Obama real fast!

    Big K wrote:

    I can predict what Obama’s speech to Africans will be like tomorrow. He will LECTURE US on democracy, human rights, corruption etc.

    I just wished he would say the same things to Arabs rather than bending over backwards to placate them.

    He can be sure though that Africans will never throw shoes at him.
    ADD… Russia for her war in Chechnya and Georgia… and Russia for corruption and frequent murders of its journalists… and Russia for organized crime and Mafia way of business deal and Russia for preferring business deals with Iran over election matters and nuclear matters which Obama “so care about”

    ADD… Italy, where Obama was for several days… Italy with Prime Minister Berlusconi whose media empire is synonymous his other tools of corruption… in fact, Mr. Berlusconi has faced repeated charges of corruption and there is the Italian Mafia in there… but Obama went to Italy and he did not lecture Italians

    ADD… despite all that America does for Israel, Israel’s current Prime Minister adamantly refuses to listen to Obama “gentle prodding and request” that Israel vacate occupied territories of Palestine and desist from expanding Israeli’s land-grabs! Despite United Nations resolutions to this effect and despite the so-called “International Community” urging of Israel to comply

    Mr. Obama says he will negotiate with Iran and North Korea UNCONDITIONALLY, and these are “supposed” to be the Axis of Evil … American enemies per Mr. Bush….

    AND, Nigeria, no enemies of America or anyone, is being visited with diplomatic slaps and whacks in the face by this undiplomatic Obama?

    Obama is a tool in the hands of someone’s agenda….

    I am waiting for his apology for slavery and colonialism tomorrow or next… while in Ghana

    I am almost ready to write him off as another Mr. double standard… for his lectures and condescending manners towards Africans and peoples of African descent.

    I am jumping off this Obama bandwagon!

    Reply
  4. Informed Observer says:
    May 22, 2009 at 2:49 pm

    wake up…World Bank, IMF, US and all other donor countries and organizations “RUN” Ghana. Corruption is alive in the world, don’t be fooled.

    Reply
  5. Informed Observer says:
    May 22, 2009 at 2:45 pm

    My dear NiiAddotey…in 2009, this level of ignorance is unacceptable. First off, Nigeria is not very very corrupt..the leaders are. Ghana is also corrupt, the only difference is, Ghana get a large percentage of it’s income from aid and “he who pays the piper, dictates the tune”. Nigeria can say NO to a US base because they have the muscle to…Ghana can’t. We need their money!

    We all love Obama but it is important to remember that he is FIRST an AMERICAN and then a black man. Never forget that. American supremacy will NEVER be jeopardized. No, Obama is not coming becos he LOVES Ghana. It is strategic. He will give us money and we will continue to do their bidding…wake up!

    Reply
  6. Ghanaman says:
    May 22, 2009 at 7:32 am

    Obama does not need a very very corrupt nation like Nigeria where chaos and corruption is the norm. Yaradua words are mere words because we Ghanaians dont care about words but deeds.

    Trading with Nigeria is the way forward and Africom cannot stop african nations from trading with each other. In todays world, taking a hard stance has its blessings and curses. Lets all remember that the US is coming to Africa for reason such as oil, and so lets also tap their oil quest and give them what they desire peacefully, so we can also gain their know-how in other areas such as the machine tool industry, renewable energy, and how to curtail curruption and create jobs for our people. USA is not the enemy at all. They are actually our friends because we already tick, dress like them, look like some of them and heck do as they do. I know for sure that if US sneezes, Ghana sneezes. I know for sure that our youth and their youth are on the same wavelength. Every Ghanaian will die to go the the USA and I can bet others in the west african region will do same.

    Rather than create problems for the USA, let west africans see what Ghana has seen in them. That lets us give and take. Thats whats its all about.

    NiiAddotey

    Reply
    • Dr P says:
      May 22, 2009 at 1:03 pm

      Be a man NiiAddotey, not a boy-boy of the US. Be a man. It’s about time. I can’t believe in 2009 you are typing all this stuff inviting the colonialists again. Be a man or die trying, stop failing our ancestors. Dress Ghanaian. tie is for the white man. Be a man NiiAddotey. Be a man! STop selling your soul and country. US will do one thing and one thing only- exploit you as they have every nation they have been to. Be a man, your own man!

      peace.

      Reply
  7. Dr P says:
    May 18, 2009 at 9:57 am

    We can talk about Nigerian shortcomings as US also has shortcomings under another heading. the reason why US visited Kuwait, Jordan and Ghana is clear- MILITARY BASES and AFRICOM.

    We should stop embarrassing ourselves when we should rather unite against US re-colonization of Africa.

    Yaraduas words must have hurt the US:
    newsrescue.com/…/…
    “..That will not happen.” “I can promise you that you will not see American soldiers or marines on the streets of Lagos or Abuja or anywhere in Nigeria running around with guns or a building with AFRICOM signpost on it…”

    We should support him on behalf of Africa and how we bled by western Boots and how 30 million died in Congo when Leopold came.

    obama MUST GO…to ghana!

    Reply
  8. Dianne says:
    May 17, 2009 at 4:12 pm

    @W

    I am not as confident…

    Reply
  9. Worchester says:
    May 17, 2009 at 3:10 pm

    Africans are not foolish they can see through US policy.

    Reply
  10. Fred says:
    May 17, 2009 at 3:02 pm

    I hope ghana has not betrayed Africa and accepted to host Africom. ghana should wake up and smell the hot baking imperialism smoke.

    No, Ghana, treat USA’s Obama nivcely, but do not sell Africa once again!

    Reply

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