Obama's historical visit to Ghana

Obama in Ghana


U.S President Barack Obama, like many heads of state, has Africa in his mind or on his agenda to work with. Africa, many times, is like a continent totally neglected, but the fact is, there is no head of state that could push the continent aside because of its vast mineral resources, which the developed and developing countries depend on.

Obama chose Ghana as his first country in Africa because of the country's peaceful political events on the path to democracy. Ghana, formerly called "Gold Coast," gained independence in 1957, and recently had its fifth successive civilian government elected since 1992.

It is Ghana's political success of peaceful democracy that caught the attention of Obama to choose the country as his first country to visit after his inauguration as the president of the United States of America, a couple of months ago. 

The American president was welcomed at the airport by President John Evans Atta Mills, also a newly elected president under the umbrella of the National Democratic Congress(NDC), amidst drumming and dancing at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra, the capital.

"Akwaaba," welcome, says the Ghanaian president to Obama. Here, I can't explain in detail the happiness and the delight that accompanied the family of Obama family as they stepped on the Ghanaian soil for the first time.

In a speech at a fully packed convention center, Obama said, " I have come to Ghana for a simple reason. The 21st century will be shaped by what happens not just in Rome or Moscow or Washington, but what happens in Accra as well."

Obama hit hard on corruption, which has been the only tool that has crippled and is still crippling the economy of Africa in general. He reminds African leaders of the task on their shoulders as heads of state, by taking the masses that brought them into power into consideration. 

He called on the Africans to build democracy, create employment, fight corruption, and end the conflicts in Africa, which he called 'a millstone around Africa's neck.'

After touring many interesting places, the president and his family were emotionally moved when they visited the slave dungeon at the Cape Coast Castle. The slave trade was long abolished, but the grim terror was still fresh in the minds of African-Americans who came on a visit to Cape Coast Castle. 

The shackles and the chains used to bind the slaves over three hundred years ago are still there to be seen. After his emotional tour, Obama described the slave trade as one of the evils committed against humanity.

He commended Ghana for preserving the castle and those who contributed to the abolition of slavery. He said the essence of the tour was to learn about the oppression that African Americans went through and to interact ancestral lineage. 

"As somebody whose father comes from Africa, I'm pleased this visit has been particularly meaningful for me." He concluded.

THE BITE OF THE MANGO - Mariatu Kamara's Book

Mariatu Kamara, author of 'The Bite Of The Mango'

Interviewed by Jim Clancy, CNN's Inside Africa, the Sierra Leonean-born victim of war and author of the book '' The Bite of the Mango,'' Mariatu Kamara, told her horrific ordeal during the ten-year-long brutal war that maimed thousands of civilians in her country.

Mariatu narrates her story. At 12, fleeing from the activities of the rebels, she finds herself in another village. She felt hungry and decided to go to her village to get some food to eat. On the way, she was captured by the rebels, and they amputated both of her wrists. 

For what reason? So that there wouldn't be any hands to vote for the government. But they were wrong ''I still have hands to do whatever I want to do said the courageous woman.

Asked by Jim Clancy why she named her book ''The bite of the mango,'' she explained that after her wrists were cut off, a man came to her aid and offered her a mango to eat. But she felt like a child being fed. Despite the pains and blood gushing out from her wounds, Mariatu held the mango to eat it herself.

At her book launch in the United States of America, the courageous war victim was awarded the ''Voices of Courage Award." She happily interacted and answered questions of people who wanted to know her story and spoke of the meaning of the award to her. 

Her message is ''Never give up in life, no matter the situation. She went on further to say that victims of war and other calamities to keep on pushing until success is achieved.

Mariatu is not only a courageous but strong woman who has brought to the awareness of the world the suffering of war victims globally.

Book available at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Bite-Mango-Mariatu-Kamara/dp/1554511585/

Britain's Economic Crisis, will they get out of this disaster?

Beautiful London

Eurozone
Britain is a country known to adhere to special rules, regulations, and principles, to be neutral, conservative, and probably to be unique amongst other advanced countries in the world. The official reasons for staying out of the Eurozone are a good example of what Britain stands for. 

In the first place, Britain should know best, united we stand, divided we fall. There is no way the economy will be successful with its single currency within the Euro currency zones.

From every angle, one could clearly see that the "imperial system of political ideas" in that country has taken its toll on them. In any crisis, people, instead of finding an immediate solution, would rather want someone to blame. 

Britain accused the United States of America of this unprecedented economic setback, failing to realize that the country's economic woes were brewed by internal factors as well. 

Just imagine how advanced auto technology is constantly shaping and changing this world, but Britain is still driving and producing "right-hand steering Vehicles" in Europe. 

The type of vehicles Europeans and Third World Countries don't need. Even if they produce the right form of vehicles for countries that need them, it will still affect them in many ways because countries driving right are more than those driving left.

Teenage Pregnancy

Take, for example, how the economy of a country thrives when teenagers ignore education and choose to be mothers instead? According to statistics, Britain has the highest percentage of teenage pregnancies. Teenage pregnancy has a great effect on the economy of every country. 

A brilliant child who pulls out of school because of pregnancy is a waste of human resources. It's very common to see  British teenagers speaking English but can't write. How can she write an application letter for a job, when she can't correctly spell words his or her own language?

Alcoholism

Alcohol is another factor that has affected the health system of Britain's economy. The passion for alcohol in Britain is beyond cure. There is nothing that the British government can do to prevent or reduce the rate of alcohol consumption in that country, even if the price of drinks is raised. 

Alcohol and drug abuse are some of the factors linked to teenage pregnancy; therefore, the government needs to find solutions to these problems, or else Britain will experience economic depression always no matter how good a politician is.

Discrimination in employment

Employment discrimination is another factor that has worsened Britain's economic crisis. Discrimination in employment takes place in Britain in many ways, against women, religion, race, and color. 

Many qualified professional workers are denied jobs in Britain daily, because of the color of their skin, his or her religion, or their sex. Instead, they employ someone unqualified and lazy, because of the slogan "Our People First." Developments in such circumstances are never achieved or slow because of the inefficiency of production.

Lazy workers call for sick leave, stay at home for long days without working, claiming benefits and other allowances, affecting the hard workers and taxpayers' money. Employment discrimination is somewhat better in London and places with good integration. 

The worst place in the county of Dorset (Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch), British Blacks and other foreigners are aware of that, which is the reason one can hardly see them in the neighborhoods.

People actually enjoy Britain on a visit, but I'm always sad whenever I'm in that country due to what I see. Almost on every street, I see dozens of "pregnant men." Obesity is taking its toll on the health of the people, but they simply don't care because food is delicious. 

When you talk about fashion, I think the worst-dressed Europeans are the British. When one visits places like Italy, Germany, France, and Belgium, one can see that they dress better than in Britain.

High Transportation cost

The cost of public transport in Britain is higher if compared with its European counterparts. Within the city of London, a short trip by bus costs £2. 

The ticket expires as one alights from the bus. In most of the European countries, for example, in Belgium, a city trip by tram or bus costs one euro twenty cents (from the ticket machine) and one euro fifty cents (from the bus or tram chauffeur). 

The ticket has an hour validity; in this case, one can join more than for four of five teams, depending on the length of the journey, until the ticket expires.

Despite all the harsh taxation systems, property tax, congestion tax and other means of money collection, Britain is a restless country to live in Europe. This is an indication that capitalism has failed in Britain. 

The lazy man wants to live like a rich man and have the same things as the rich man. The crime rate is increasing rapidly in Britain. God help the Scotland Yard. 

Until Britain's economy comes back on the right track, politicians in that country must be serious about finding solutions to the aforementioned problems.