President John Kufuor of Ghana has welcomed an assurance by President George W. Bush that the United States does not intend building new military bases in Africa.
Kufuor was speaking at a news conference in Accra after Bush had said speculation that the U.S. military's new Africa Command (Africom) included plans for new bases was "baloney."
According to a transcript released by the White House, Bush described Africom as "a command structure that is aiming to help provide military assistance to African nations, so African nations are more capable of dealing with Africa's conflicts – like peacekeeping training…"
After denying there would be new U.S. bases, he added, "now, that doesn't mean we won't develop some kind of office somewhere in Africa. We haven't made our minds up."
Liberia, the next and final stop on Bush's five-nation visit to the continent, has offered to host the command headquarters.
Responding to Bush, Kufuor said: "I am happy… for the President dispelling any notion that the United States… is intending to build military bases on the continent… I believe the explanation the President has given should put [paid] to the speculation…"
At the same news conference, Kufuor denied that China was dictating to Africa. Bush for his part dismissed any suggestion that there was strong competition between the United States and China on the continent.
Responding to a question from an American journalist, Kufuor said China's growing presence on the continent was on Africa's terms.
"It's coming not as a colonial power, as far as we can see. It's coming… as a guest," Kufuor said. "I can assure you our nations are not succumbing to dictates and impositions, not from China, nor elsewhere…
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"If it's something that Africa wants to buy and it can find it economical, then whatever it is, that's where Africa will buy it from. And China is proving quite competitive… We believe that's what globalization should be all about."
Dealing with concerns about human rights in China, Kufuor suggested that "in due course… there will be a tendency towards liberalization… It seems all of us are coming under the influences of information and communications technology. People are beginning to speak for themselves everywhere and standing for their rights."
Bush said he did not regard China as "a fierce competitor" with the United States: "I don't view Africa as zero-sum for China and the United States."
During the news conference, Bush also announced that the U.S. would make available U.S. $350 million over five years to combat "neglected tropical diseases" – such as hookworm and river blindness – in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, as well as $17 million to help Ghana fight malaria.
