Is it not the case that Africa's leadership problem may derive from the poverty of diligence, faith, and ideas among others, in the Africans and their leaders? Why for example would a leader be so inept and corrupt that they cannot see that their greatest accomplishment is the enduring impoverishment of their country and why that is wrong? Why for example are the led not able to see that their leaders are anything but, in some cases their enemies?
Mr. Campaore was Bukina Faso's leader for nearly 28 years. His country and people have become increasingly poorer over those years. How Campaore came to power is not lost on anyone who has been paying attention. It is believed by many that Campaore overthrew and murdered Thomas Sankara at the behest of his country's former colonizer- France. Many will recall that Sankara's death was widely mourned at the time by liberals and progressives in Africa and elsewhere some of whom predicted that Campaore as president, would be both a waste of space and time for Bukina Faso. Every one may judge for themselves how true that prediction has become.
It is very well to call on Obama to do this or that about the state of affairs in Bukina Faso or elsewhere in Africa. People in South America and Asia have learned not to. They would rather grab the development beast by the scruff of the neck. My question is why should Obama answer such calls except his country stood to profit from any answer to that call? Does Obama not have enough on his plate already? Why must Obama be the salvage-man expected to not only clean up every deliberately created mess, but actually pay for it, and not have his country profit from it?
Where are African leaders who should have known by now that regional cooperation and integration is the new way to sustainable progressive development and growth for achieving truly sovereign countries. A country is not sovereign until her leaders and people are determined to keep and maintain her sovereignty, jealously guard it at all times, and be reluctant to accept avoidable assistance from friendly genies- external sources.
Bukina Faso is not poor because it is land locked or not endowed with agricultural and mineral resources. She is because her leaders are grossly unfaithful to her and will not harness her most critical resource- people to develop and grow the country as other people have done and continue to do in every prosperous country. The Bukinabe are finally paying attention and change may be coming. Campaore is out and not because he chose to be. The people made that choice for him. If only they made that choice earlier.
Obama may be invited to come help. He may answer the call. He may try to help. It must be accepted though that his country must profit from such an enterprise, sometimes at the expense of the host country. What is also true is that Obama cannot and will not make Bukina Faso, the prosperous country that the Bukinabe themselves are not willing to make of their country. As has been said before, anyone wishing to be free must first desire to be free. If enduring country prosperity is a gift, who is the country-giver?
oa
From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [mailto:usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of william bangura
Sent: Saturday, November 01, 2014 2:08 PM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - BURKINA FASO - NO HASTY WESTERN DEMOCRACY
This is an Open Letter to President Barack H. Obama.
Dear President Obama,
The crises in Burkina Faso is an opportunity to address the issues of governance, accountability and transparency (GAT) in sub-Saharan Africa.
You must utilize the USAID as the leader of this paradigm, and also include the various United Nations agencies (UNESCO, FAO, UNDP, WHO), the National Democratic Institute (NDI), the International Republican Institute (IRI), and the countries of Israel, Cuba, South Korea, Scandinavia and France.
Governance in sub-Saharan Africa has to be practiced through the African context and in this instance within the Burkinabe culture. Village Assemblies, Town Councils and District Legislatures if they have not been established should be created, and if they are, they must be empowered to politically educate the people of Burkina Faso. These various forms of government will not only serve as a laboratory for governance, but they will also create a symbiosis between the government and the governed. One of the main problems of politics in sub-Saharan Africa is that the governments do not fulfill their obligations to the governed, because the governed are not aware of their responsibilities viz a vis their governments.
A Diarchy can be experimented with the "Israeli" model as a prototype. Israel has successfully combined civilian governance and military authority. The "senior" positions of President, Vice President Finance, Foreign Affairs, Defense, Economics & Development Planning and Attorney General must be equally divided between the junta and representatives of the opposition excluding members of Blaise Compaore's party, the Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP). Officers and civilians will serve for a five-year term and will never again participate or hold any political offices. And the military officers must resign from the army and if they have not attained the retirement age will seek employment in the private sector.
The exclusion of the CDP is a punishment for their corruption and maladministration.
One of the salient issue that also has to be addressed is that of the salaries of the ministers, heads of governments, the civil service and the parastatals. In Sierra Leone a minister's salary is US$500. How in the world will a pragmatic person expect those ministers not to plunder the country's treasury when they are paid pittance, but have to maintain the prestige of such offices?
Both the NDI and the IRI will support the administration of the local, district and central governments.
The Cubans will not only facilitate with the "teaching" of patriotism, they, assisted by the Israelis, Scandinavians, South Koreans and the French will also establish polyclinics in all the villages, towns and in Ouagadougou. The Cuban educational model can also be utilized to eradicate illiteracy.
Being at the top of the Corruption Perception Index some of these Scandinavian countries can educate the Burkanabes on the issues of accountability and transparency.
The South Koreans can promote chaebol (public-private) partnerships to alleviate poverty and create economic activities.
The USAID in conjunction with the US Department of Agriculture, the FAO and the aforementioned countries can combine capital and labor intensive forms of agriculture to reduce unemployment and provide food security for Burkina Faso.
In a response to a reporters question about the "coup" in Egypt you had responded--I am paraphrasing--that voting does not equate to democracy. This is the best opportunity for you to appease those of us who worked tirelessly--in both the Democratic primaries and presidential elections of 2008--to guarantee that you were elected president anticipating that you will begin to solve the issues of GAT and corruption of the continent of your paternal fore-fathers.
William Bangura
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