Bono Hopeful Over President Barack Obama's African Visit

Access Hollywood - July 10, 2009 4:10 PM PDT
Story photo: Bono Hopeful Over President Barack Obama's African VisitBono, President Barack Obama Getty ImagesAccess Hollywood

NEW YORK, NY -- Pop star and longtime Africa activist, U2's Bono, said he is eager for President Barack Obama's visit to the country of Ghana in Africa beginning on Saturday.

"The president can facilitate the new, the fresh and the different," Bono wrote in a piece for the New York Times on Thursday. "Many existing promises are expiring in 2010, some of old age and others of chronic neglect."

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Bono wrote that he hopes President Obama's visit will help draw attention to the African continent, which continues to struggle with poverty and corruption.

"The United States is one of the countries on track to keep its promises, and Mr. Obama has already said he'll more than build on the impressive Bush legacy," the U2 singer wrote. "President Obama plans to return to Africa for the World Cup in 2010. Between now and then he's got the chance to lead others in building -- from the bottom up -- on the successes of recent efforts within Africa and to learn from the failures. There's been plenty of both. We've witnessed the good, the bad and the ugly in our fraught relationship with this dynamic continent."

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The singer urged others to get involved beyond President Obama's visit.

"If more African nations (not just Ghana) are going to meet the millennium goals, they are going to need smart partners in business and development," he wrote. "That's Smart as in sustainable, measurable, accountable, responsive and transparent."

To read Bono's entire piece, CLICK HERE.

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comments 1-10 of 27  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >|  hide comments · post a comment
  • Pamela G
    another thing is that all the traveling obama's doing is costing the taxpayers, esp. when the wife/kids are always going w/him. so i agree, stay home & fix the bad economy instead of contributing 2 it, obama, then worry about other countries. remember, "charity begins at home"!!
    report abuseposted July 14, 2009 7:43 AM PDT
  • Fan
    I don't care what Bono says, nor Obama. What about America?? Were dying here, losing jobs and money, give me a break! We'll help Africa when Obama keeps his promises to create jobs in America!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm talking REAL jobs not GOVERNMENT jobs which are PAID by taxpayer money and not CONSTRUCTION jobs either!
    report abuseposted July 12, 2009 9:27 PM PDT
  • GT
    F*ck what "Bono says".When the going got rough in Ireland, U2 reincorported in the Netherlands.He's full of $het-full of himself.
    report abuseposted July 12, 2009 4:33 PM PDT
  • JenniferH
    Alice is right. If we took our own issues in this Country seriously, we may not be where we are now. I think it is wonderful that we help other Countrys that need it....but when will we work on our own if we are tied up in others all the time?
    report abuseposted July 12, 2009 3:20 PM PDT
  • Alice
    SORRY MISSED UP. WHY DOESN'T BONO AND OUR PRESIDENT WORRY ABOUT PEOPLE HERE IN THE U.S.A WHO ARE DOING WITHOUT FOOD AND A PLACE TO STAY FIRST THEN WORRY ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE????????????????
    report abuseposted July 12, 2009 8:57 AM PDT
  • Alice
    Why don't they worry about people here who are doing with food and a place to stay first then worry about everyone else??????????
    report abuseposted July 12, 2009 8:53 AM PDT
  • Alice
    Why don't they worry about people here who are doing with food and a place to stay first then worry about everyone else??????????
    report abuseposted July 12, 2009 8:53 AM PDT
  • Jennifer
    BONO IS A PHILANTROPIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! & A GREAT ARTIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    report abuseposted July 11, 2009 7:13 PM PDT
  • K-9
    The Hermorphodite(no brain)loves' to wear skinny jeans to jail.FRUITCAKE!!!
    report abuseposted July 11, 2009 6:34 PM PDT
  • SHAUNTAI T
    the brain, we know which head you are really using to think with. Don't hate your people had hundreds of years in the role and just couldn't get it right!!!!! It took earth's aboriginal people to get the job done!!!
    report abuseposted July 11, 2009 6:23 PM PDT
comments 1-10 of 27  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >| 

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