Obama can’t ignore corruption in Africa

When President Obama visits Ghana next month in his first official trip to sub-Saharan Africa, he will be greeted with open arms as a son of the continent. The president must not let such outpouring of affection soften his discussions with African leaders about such intractable problems as poverty and disease caused by runaway public corruption.

With the many billions of dollars in foreign aid sent to countries throughout Africa, the question President Obama must ask is this: Why hasn’t more progress been made in the fight against poverty and disease that claim hundreds of thousands of lives each year? He should not accept the answer that has been heard for decades: The problems in Africa are a legacy of colonialism.

Any objective analysis of what has taken place in many countries since their independence will find that civil wars and corruption are at the heart of what ails the continent.

Indeed, when the president, accompanied by the first lady, travel to Ghana July 10 for a two-day visit, he should carry with him a copy of Wednesday’s New York Times that has a front-page story headlined, “Battle to Halt Graft Scourge in Africa Ebbs.”

The opening paragraph of the story could be the basis of Obama’s discussion with America’s allies: “The fight against corruption in Africa’s most pivotal nations is faltering as public agencies investigating wrongdoing by powerful politicians have been undermined or disbanded and officials leading the charge have been dismissed, subjected to death threats and driven into exile.” The story was written by Celia W. Dugger from Lusaka, the capital of the southern African nation of Zambia.

The article is replete with examples of anti-corruption initiatives and campaigns being undermined by governments used to operating outside the glare of public scrutiny.

Foreign bank accounts

We have long advocated a freezing of foreign bank accounts of current and former African leaders until they provide proof that the money was accumulated legally. Such proof does not exist. These leaders have not only enriched themselves and their cronies to the extent that they are able to live out their lives in the lap of luxury in Europe, but have done so at the expense of their people.

These African leaders govern by intimidation. Critics are killed by marauding, lawless militiamen loyal to the government, foreign organizations that dare to question the expenditure of foreign aid are expelled and banned from returning and countries such as China and Russia, desperate for the mineral wealth found in Africa, have become enablers of corruption.

Here’s an example of what is taking place with regard to the push-back in the battle to halt the scourge of graft, as described in the New York Times story: In oil-rich Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, a wealthy former governor tried to bribe officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission with huge sacks stuffed with $15 million in $100 bills.

The head of the commission, Nuhu Ribadu, fled his homeland and is now living in exile in England. He had received death threats and was fired upon in September by assailants, according to the Times.

President Obama, who has roots in Africa through his Kenyan father, must not be blinded by the hospitality he undoubtedly will experience.

Most Africans are living lives of sheer despair. Killer diseases continue to spread because money sent by foreign governments to fight them is misspent or stolen. Children are starving to death. And the elderly have no chance of dying in peace.

Corrupt governments in Africa must be held to account — by a powerful son of Africa, the president of the United States.