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
-- 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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