The Accra Declaration and the Youth!

Now the euphoria is over and the excitement is settled. The streets of Accra, from the Ring Road to the High Street, are devoid of what came to be known as the “Obama Road Blocks,” which brought Accra to a halt for several hours. It’s been a little over a week since Air Force One was lifted off the runways of the Kotoka International Airport, where Ghanaians were privileged to have it grace our land and airspace close to twenty-four hours. It has been a little over a week since the prestigious “Beast” decorated the streets of Accra. It’s been a little over a week since one of the outstanding orators of the 21st century delivered what has come to be known as the “Accra Declaration,” the United States Policy Statement for Africa.

The focus of this discussion is to do a synopsis of the speech and its impact (or intended impact) on the youth of sub-Saharan Africa in the 21st Century. I have observed from the biography and speeches of President Barack Hussein Obama, President of the United States of America, that he is a self-motivator and he seeks to motivate those he comes into contact with via his speeches and actions, hence his popular slogan, “Yes We Can!” President Obama after observing all protocols, in his speech went straight to throw a challenge to Africa. He said that we have a role to play in the story of the 21st century, rather than sit back and look out our continental window for donors who will try to shape us into what they want, rather than have us determine where we want to go. Obama said, “The 21st century will be shaped by what happens not just in Rome or Moscow or Washington, but by what happens in Accra, as well.” This statement was to set the tone of his speech, to let Africans know that they are the determinants of their future. His speech was addressed to the legislature, however, I will like, for the purposes of this colloquy, to look at a panorama of the speech and its effects on the youth of Ghana. President Barack Obama stated that “We must start from the simple premise that Africa's future is up to Africans.” He went further to say, “But what America will do is increase assistance for responsible individuals and responsible institutions, with a focus on supporting good governance and parliaments, which check abuses of power and ensure that opposition voices are heard on the rule of law, which ensures the equal administration of justice; on civic participation, so that young people get involved; and on concrete solutions to corruption like forensic accounting and automating services.” From the preceding statements, it is clear that he sought to challenge the African to take her destiny into her own hands. Are Ghanaian youth ready to take up the challenge?

Obama went on to encourage Africans not to dwell in the past, but to look forward to the future with a positive attitude and hope. President Obama’s speech was addressed to the youth of Ghana specifically, and to Africans in general, to move past the pain and discomfort of the past and to take up the challenge of possessing our destiny. Are Ghanaian youth ready to break down the barrier of self-pity and to give up always looking to the West for help? Are the youth of Ghana ready to be challenged by becoming innovative? Would the youth seek formal education and general knowledge, requisites for becoming successful in a competitive world? Are Ghanaian youth ready to take up the challenge of standing for what they believe in? Would we rather follow in the paths that have been laid down by our fathers? As a young person, I dare say that we are not proactive and we seem to be stuck in the cycle of mediocrity. We prefer to follow the old system. We fail to remember that this is the 21st century, the ICT generation where mails are sent across the globe by a click of a button. If we expect those whose generation needed a minimum of 3 weeks to have mail travel from one end of the world to the other to show us the path to our future, then we are on a path to playing a losing game. That is not to say that the examples of our predecessors are not important; we need history as a stepping stone into the future and not an end in itself.

We must be innovative and creative in paving the path to our future, not to engage in scams and fraud as shortcuts to success. This is what President Obama meant when he said “… old habits must also be broken.” He challenged Africans to be ground-breaking in their own countries, as African immigrants in the Americas and Europe are doing very well: “They've (Africans) got the talent, they've got the entrepreneurial spirit. The question is how do we make sure that they're succeeding here in their countries [such as Ghana]?” He challenged governments to create an enabling environment by following the path of democracy and good governance. The question is, after that then what? If the youth do not learn to confront issues head-on, but prefer to remain in their comfort zones, then it will be a fruitless venture. Are young people ready to be proactive and to break the cycle of mediocrity?

As Obama spoke, I asked myself: How many Ghanaians are really listening to him throw this challenge? How many are really ready to break down the barriers of mediocrity, and to find new and imaginative ways of doing things? How many of the youth are ready to defy the system and dare to stand out like President Barack Obama has done? Even though the vision he set for himself was arduous, he dared to be different and not to be demoralized by the institutions. He chose to give an alternative of change and a new face to American politics, and that is why the world comes to a halt wherever he goes. He went on to say, “It will be the young people brimming with talent and energy and hope who can claim the future that so many in previous generations never realized.” I ask again: Is the young Ghanaian ready to be creative and to do things in a new way? Are we ready to bring our brimming talents and energy to use in a positive way?

The Ghanaian youth ought to stop wallowing in the glory of their fathers and leaders. We need to set records for ourselves. You often hear that a lot of young Ghanaians take pride in the fact that they are the sons, daughters, nieces or nephews of Mr. So-and-so who is so-and-so. For me, the question is: Who are we, the present generation? What are we daring to do differently to impact our generation? Who will the future cohorts look up to for inspiration? We must seek to do something for posterity. Is the young African poised to impact posterity?

It is clear that the new face of America is ready to help those who are willing and ready to help themselves. President Obama said, “Together, we can partner on behalf of our planet and prosperity, and help countries increase access to power while skipping – leapfrogging the dirtier phase of development. Think about it: Across Africa, there is bountiful wind and solar power; geothermal energy and biofuels. From the Rift Valley to the North African deserts; from the Western coasts to South Africa's crops, Africa's boundless natural gifts can generate its own power, while exporting profitable, clean energy abroad.” Are the Ghanaian youth who have been educated at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and elsewhere, in Engineering, in Biochemistry, in solar technology and allied areas ready to take up the daunting task of developing new methods and technologies for the 21st century?

In this age of global recession and global challenges, it is becoming more and more necessary for the youth of Ghana, and Africa in general, to take their destiny into their own hands, and to pursue their own developmental agenda with the human and natural resources they have been bestowed with. It is time we saw ourselves as pacesetters in determining the future of our continent in particular, and the world at large. It is time we stopped wallowing in the glory of others and be numbered amongst the achievers of our generation. It is time to also declare: “Yes We Can!”

It is my prayer that at the end of the term of President Barack Obama, he will look back and say that, amongst all the things he had achieved as president of the United States, one that he’s most proud of, was his ability to motivate the youth of Ghana and Africa to stand and to say “Yes we can!” and indeed they did. Are we the youth ready to take our destiny into our own hands? Are we ready to be the trendsetters of our generation? President Obama, the son of an African immigrant, has succeeded in setting the tone for the new face of the United States of America. Are we, as Ghanaians and Africans, ready to be pacesetters in our own nation and the continent?

It’s a choice we have to make and I hope we make a positive one!

The writer Naa Wellington, is just a concerned citizen of Ghana who can be reached at naawellington@ymail.com