OBAMA AND POST VISIT IMPACT: [im] POSSIBILITIES

This is by all means interesting...Obama's visit to Ghana. I think the hero that he is...in the least the hero African activists see him to be, which links much with his legal background, will serve to upscale the energies of activism. But i think more importantly, we could focus on two reverse sides (a) what his visit will 'not do' and (b) what his non visit in other strategic countries will mean, for who. On the first point, there has been a consistent tendency by Africans to expect so much from Obama...the Nigerians had sent money for his campaign in which case he declined, Kenyans thought, he must surely allow few extra visitors from his fatherland in his inauguration, both of which never got through the gates they hoped. There is so much that he cannot do for Ghana, hence the need for a pragmatic and realistic approach to his visit. In this case, it might be more useful to establish an explorative approach, to 'see' what will happen to the civil society after his visit, and to see what will not happen to the civil society + other 'expectant' bodies. These are interesting trends to look out for.

And why is Obama visiting Ghana and not Kenya? Why not the largest economy in Africa, down South? Nigeria, Egypt? Was this a deliberate ommission? Also important questions to ask. What will these do to development? I am yet to hear Obama speak to Africans about the Millenium Development Goals, and about doubling efforts for a 'second development decade' in Africa...and what about LED and Obama? Any possible links?