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So far, he is the century’s symbol of inspiration. The US president Barack Obama speaks and the world, or at least his intended audience, moves. His latest major audience of a specific target was the African continent. Speaking in Accra two days ago, Obama shared with the world what the policy of his administration in Washington is going to be for Africa. It was clear that democratic accountability and human rights are some of the issues that are going to be supreme. Yet if inspiration was anything to go by in his speech, then it came out clearly that the first African-American US president spoke to the young of what is arguably the poorest continent – Africa.

Obama reminded the youth in Africa of their huge numerical potential and the possibilities that come along with that it, and oh yes, hundreds of thousands if not millions across the continent felt stirred up. Yet this was not the first time young Africans were being appealed to that they are the hope, the bedrock and the determinants of the destiny, not just of Africa but the whole world. Unfortunately, the African youth seem not ever understand this fact. However, one hopes that the inspiring words of Obama may change this mentality forever.

In every election, every single politician will make it plain the importance, the influence and the role that young people have in the development of society. True that is going to be the time they will remember that young people play football; so they organize some competitions; and indeed for the first time in probably five years, you may see the entire community coming together to share a happy moment. They watch the youngsters and cheer; before and after the game(s) they may listen to their (aspiring) leaders articulating developmental issues for their community. Talk about the mobilisation capacity of young people.

Unfortunately, here they are used as mere tools. After elections, the youngsters go back wallowing in their usual hopelessness while the men and women who were yesterday explaining young people’s importance for development are busy marrying one woman or husband after another, buying the latest models of vehicles and so on. They wait to look for the youth again after five years. In the meantime, it is broad daylight official robbery hidden in the term ‘corruption.’

Source: The Independent