SIKANKU: It’s a mixed bag: fervor, indifference as Oba-macy takes on the world

This will be Obama's first visit to Sub-Saharan Africa since his transcendent election last fall

By Etse Sikanku
Published: July 3, 2009

For the first time in the post-modern era, a definitive consensus on American exceptionalism is emerging. But even more unpredictable was the rise of a black man as history’s harbinger.

So it is not surprising that Obama’s planned visit to Africa has generated interest globally and particularly in Ghana where I’ve now lost count of the stream of daily commentaries on this matter. This sounds like a good time to see whether Barack's foreign policy brand-Obamacy- will significantly change American diplomacy. That is,the idea of using dialogue including talking to state enemies instead of ignoring them.

Since foreign policy experts have already made mince meat of this subject, I headed to the streets of Iowa to find out what people in the United States think about Obama’s first presidential visit to sub-Saharan Africa.

Prince Eddie Etsey a Ghanaian resident in Iowa and an IT Service Delivery and Operations Manager captures the mood of most Ghanaians abroad when he says “It just shows how AWESOME Ghana is.”

According to Charles Abbott, from Rochester, New York and a Geography PhD, “Africa has an image problem. This visit probably makes more of a difference for Africa than the US. When people in the US think about Africa, five things come to mind: famine corruption, AIDS, war and animals. So it’s good that he’s visiting Ghana which is a stable country”.

Indeed Africa’s image problem is nothing but fabled. It may be hard to believe but an African American woman I once met in Missouri told me she never visited Africa because she couldn’t bring herself to living “among trees, animals and naked people.” Ouch.

No wonder then that for some, any semblance of normalcy in an African country-something they hope Obama’s visit will portray- is seen as a step in clearing such misconceptions.

Sunday Goshit, a Nigerian native who recently earned his doctorate from the University of Iowa believes that “Ghana has every opportunity to take the lead in Africa. It’s important he visited Ghana because the country is politically stable and has conducted relatively free and fair elections. Honestly I don’t think Obama’s policy on Africa is well grounded so such a visit could serve as an eye opener.”

To be sure, not much has been heard from Obama as far as his African policy is concerned. During the campaign period he set out his agenda for Africa along three signposts: (i) accelerating Africa’s integration into the global economy, (ii) enhancing the peace and security of African states and (iii) strengthening relationships with those governments and institutions committed to deepening democracy.

Yet, if Obama’s Africa policy is scarcely nuanced, his visit may be even less obvious to others. “Is he really?” “I didn’t know about that”, “I’m not interested in that” are some of the responses I got when I asked some Americans about Barack’s visit. In fact one African American lady coldly told me straight in the face “I don’t care”. But I was a bit taken aback when another quickly jumped in asking “G-h-a-n-a-a?…where’s that?”

Interestingly too, not all Ghanaians abroad are completely sold on Obama’s presidency “I am a Christian before I’m black” said Kwame Nyarko a graduate student who says he is not as excited about America’s first black president because some of Obama’s policies run counter to his Christian beliefs. Maxine Channel Sencherey a nursing student originally from Ghana says Obama is paying peripheral attention to the country by making such a whistle stop “Why the rush when he has four more years?” she asks.

Nonetheless, not everyone is as miffed either. “I believe it’s a good thing he’s visiting because America has to reach out to the rest of the world”. And for conservatives who believe this is just another opportunity for the Obama’s to rack up their frequent flyer miles, another Iowa native who works as a security guard at the Old Capitol Mall says “who cares what the Republicans think? Obama needs to do something in places like Africa where there’s genocide going on”

Surely, the international political system is in constant flux. Alliances and adversaries are being recalibrated. Not only is a controversial war on terror being waged but the threat of a nuclear arms race looms large. Combined with a declining global economy and an increasing divide between the haves and have-nots, the international system is changing in ways never before imagined. Even America-with its slave history-has voted for its first black president.

What does Obama’s election and Africa visit mean for both the continent and America?

This will continue to be a hotly debated issue. Sadly, the question some Ghanaians are asking is this; “what can we squeeze from Obama”? Instead, what we should be asking is “What can we squeeze from ourselves?”

Actually, if historical precedent is anything to go by then we do not have to look far for answers. Three things: national interest, national interest, and national interest.

Obama maybe an unabashed realist and a brazen pragmatist but American foreign policy has hardly been a blank slate.