Good People, As US New Comer African Diaspora we cannot disengage from Africa. We shall continue to dialogue to repair and maintain the good cordial relations because it will be difficult to cut roots and link with Africa. Judy Miriga Diaspora Spokesperson Executive Director Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc., USA http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com Africa: United States Disengaging From Africa - Mo IbrahimBy Nolu Crockett-Ntonga, 24 April 2013  Photo: Stuart A. Watson PhotographyAfricare’s Interim Board Chairman Stephen D. Cashin and Africare’s President Darius Mans with the 2013 Bishop John T. Walker Leadership Award recipient, Dr. Mo Ibrahim. Washington, DC — Although Africa is moving forward, the United States is pulling back, says Mo Ibrahim, the billionaire entrepreneur and father of Africa's mobile phone revolution. "We are witnessing a gradual and continuous U.S. retreat from Africa," said Ibrahim, speaking at the Washington Hilton Hotel ballroom on Saturday at an event hosted by Africare. "We don't understand that. The U.S. has been a great friend all these years, but as soon as Africa found itself starting to move up, the U.S. is really disengaging, to be frank, and as friends we must be frank with each other." Ibrahim was accepting the Leadership Award from Africare - the oldest and largest African American-led organization providing development assistance and humanitarian aid to Africa. Africare programs reach 18 nations in sub-Saharan Africa. Listed by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world, Sudanese-born Ibrahim is founder of the renowned Ibrahim Prize, which awards U.S.$5 million to democratically elected African presidents who have developed their countries, lifted people out of poverty and leave peacefully after their mandated term of office. Africare, one of 10 charities receiving donations in 2010 from President Barack Obama's $1.4 million Nobel Prize money, bestowed its Humanitarian Award on the president. He addressed the dinner by video, highlighting his administration's Africa policy, which focuses on economic growth through trade and investment. Yet the disconnect was obvious when Ibrahim addressed the black-tie dinner guests. "There is no question that Africa is moving forward. There has been tremendous economic growth in the past decade. Also health, education, and women's rights are improving," Ibrahim said. "This doesn't mean we are there yet. But African civil society is changing the game." He noted that half of all Africans on the continent are under 19 years of age, and they are better educated, informed and connected. "That is changing Africa," he said. "They don't respect the status quo." He said Africans feel "a bit uneasy" when it comes to the United States. "The U.S. administration and U.S. businesses are disengaging in Africa. Everywhere in Africa you see Indian, Chinese, Brazilian businesses," he said. "Other than Coca Cola and the oil companies, it is very rare to see American businesses." Since Obama's late father was from Kenya, hope was high in U.S.-Africa policy circles when Obama first outlined his priorities toward the continent. Despite the rhetoric, there have not been big policy initiatives such as former president George W. Bush's PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief) initiative, which is credited with saving millions of lives in the developing world. Ibrahim said African politics and economic mismanagement were holding the continent back. "Regional economic integration is most important. We can't be 54 disconnected little countries, going nowhere - we can't compete in this world like that," he said. "Africa is a very rich continent. There is no reason to have poor and hungry people." Regarding corruption, he said Africans must demand good governance in the private sector. "For each corrupt official, there are at least a dozen corrupt business people," he said. Ibrahim said the illicit transfer of funds in Africa is about five percent bribes, and 95 percent corporations avoiding taxes, mispricing and committing other infractions. Ibrahim was disappointed that President Obama did not attend Tuesday's event. "For this disengagement to happen on the watch of our son (Obama) in the White House is strange for us," he said. "This is not about aid money. We know it is hard times here with Congress and other issues. We really love you. We want a little bit of love, Mr. Obama, come and give us a hug now and then." To listen to the full speech, click here. For highlights of the event, click here. Africa: World Leaders Celebrate Legacy of African Leadership At Africare's 2013 Bishop John T. Walker Memorial Dinner23 April 2013press release Photo: Stuart A. Watson PhotographyAfricare’s Interim Board Chairman Stephen D. Cashin and Africare’s President Darius Mans with the 2013 Bishop John T. Walker Leadership Award recipient, Dr. Mo Ibrahim. WASHINGTON (April 23, 2013) — Africare, the oldest and largest African-American led non-profit committed to advancing development in Africa, hosted more than 1,000 global leaders in government, business and international development on Friday at its annual Bishop John T. Walker Memorial Dinner and fundraiser at the Hilton Washington Hotel in Washington, D.C. The gala honored President Barack Obama and Dr. Mo Ibrahim for their outstanding accomplishments and life-changing impacts in Africa. "President Obama and Dr. Ibrahim have both played critical roles in helping to improve the quality of life in Africa," said Darius Mans, President, Africare. "Their contributions, along with the consistent support of our sponsors and donors, are helping to provide underserved communities in every major region of Sub-Saharan Africa with access to food, technology, healthcare and more opportunity. We celebrate our progress to date, and eagerly look forward to making an even greater impact on the continent in years to come." President Obama was recognized for providing funds through his Nobel Peace Prize award to support the development of Africare's Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Health (WASHH) Project in the Wasa Amenfi West District of Ghana, which not only improved access to clean water, but also implemented sustainable strategies for the continuation of healthy environmental water practices. President Obama's generous contribution and support has also reinforced Ghana's initiatives to meet their Millennium Development Goal for water by 2015. White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough accepted the award on President Obama's behalf. "Tonight we gather to honor those who are building a better future for the people of Africa; to reflect on the progress that we've made; and to celebrate the legacy of Bishop Walker, a true humanitarian in every sense of that word," McDonough said. "If we continue to encourage the forces of progress and reform, of freedom and opportunity, the people of Africa will realize a bright and prosperous future and the people of the United States will be safer and more prosperous as well. So thank you for everything that you do to promote democracy, development and peace in Africa. You have a committed partner in President Obama and the United States and we look forward to continuing our work together to open new avenues of partnership and redouble our support for the aspirations of people across the continent." Africare also presented Dr. Ibrahim, a renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist, with the 2013 Bishop John T. Walker Leadership Award for his work to improve leadership in Africa through The Mo Ibrahim Foundation. Dr. Ibrahim also established the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership, which recognizes heads of state who demonstrate economic and social development and encourages and current leaders to practice better governance. "I'm really humbled and so grateful for Africare's kindness," Ibrahim said during his remarks. "Africa is moving forward - there's no question about that. It doesn't mean we are there yet. We see a great rise in the African servant society, mainly from young people and women. These two forces, I believe, are what will change Africa." The Africare Bishop John T. Walker Memorial Dinner is held each year in memory of Bishop John T. Walker, the first African-American Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, D.C. and Africare's longtime Board Chair. Bishop Walker distinguished himself as an exemplar of peace, justice and interracial harmony. The dinner plays an important role in enabling Africare to both broaden awareness about its work in Africa and to raise critically needed funds to deliver life-saving services. This year's dinner is made possible by the generosity of Chevron, ExxonMobil and The Coca-Cola Company, as well as many others from the business community. Past recipients of the Bishop John T. Walker Leadership Award include former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva who received an award in 2011 for the countless contributions in trade, investment and diplomatic relations between Brazil and Africa. |
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