Ghana can learn from Obama’s example — IEA

The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), an economic policy think tank, has urged Ghanaians, be motivated by the perseverance and hard work of US President Barack Obama to reach the highest point of democracy.
“Through hard work, persistence and determination, Barack Obama has been able to make history by becoming the first African-American President of the United States of America.”
Mrs Jean Mensa, the Administrator of the IEA, made the call on behalf of the institute in a welcoming statement issued in Accra on the eve of the arrival of the US President to the country for a two-day official visit.
She said although Ghana had made substantial gains in the area of democracy, particularly with the five successive elections since 1992, the country should strive to attain the heights the US had attained and also develop its economy to make life better for its people.
Mrs Mensa noted that if the modest gains made by the country in its democratic dispensation were being recognised by the international community as well as by visits by the US Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama, then there should not be any room for Ghanaians to be complacent but strive to achieve greater heights since there was still a lot more to be done.
She described Ghana as the Mecca of African leaders, especially great Pan Africanists such as George Padmore, Patrice Lumumba and Robert Mugabe, among others and that it was right and proper that President Obama, being the first African-American President of the US to touch the soil where his fore bears did.
“It is not surprising that US Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush Jnr came to Ghana, therefore it necessary for President Obama to also do same to register his name in the books of great Pan Africanists”.
Mrs Mensa noted that aside the pomp and pageantry, Ghana should take advantage of the opportunity to position itself well to ensure that the visit of President Obama became mutually beneficial to Ghana and the United States, adding that “we should use the excellent relations between the two countries over the years to develop our economy especially in the area of health, education and economy”.