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Americans in Ghana 'shocked' and 'scared' at Trump win
Americans in Ghana say they are shocked at today's announcement of Donald Trump winning the presidency. Stacey Knott reports from the US Embassy in Ghana.
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At the US Embassy in Accra on Wednesday morning, many Americans, foreign diplomats and Ghanaians gathered to learn the outcome of the election. While many there were working at the Embassy, and so unable to show partisan, the atmosphere was heavy, and few clapped when the live feed from CNN announced Hillary Clinton was out, and Trump in.
Speaking to the gathering, Ambassador Robert P. Jackson was diplomatic to the core, stating: “It's been a long and contentious campaign. Americans went to the polls, they voted and Donald Trump will be the next president of the United States. As we recognise his victory, we must also acknowledge the importance of Secretary Clinton's concession and her congratulating the president elect.”
Ambassador Jackson said through the election he has been asked what each candidate's election would mean to Ghana and Africa.
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“The United States and Ghana has a long and productive relationship. We are allies and will continue to work together on important issues of economic growth, health, education, security and agriculture.”
US programmes in Africa have “tremendous bipartisan support” he noted, pledging he would work to ensure colleagues in Washington DC understand “the good work we are doing here together”.
“I do not yet know what new or expanded programmes we will see under President Donald Trump but I promise you that our focus will continue to be on supporting a prosperous and democratic Ghana.”
He used the opportunity to encourage Ghanaians to vote in their upcoming election.
“The right to vote is precious and it must be exercised. There is no such thing as voting by not voting.”
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American photojournalist Annie Risemberg, 25 from Philadelphia was at the event taking photos for Pulse Ghana.
She was “100 percent shocked and outraged” to see Trump's face looming over the Embassy crowd as he delivered his victory speech.
“I didn't think this was possible. It's a very diverse country and the people this is going to hurt the most are minorities- basically anyone who is not straight, white male. This is a critical time because of the refugee crisis and the civil rights issues African Americans are facing.”
She expressed concerns about Trump's foreign policy. She has been documenting Syrian refugees in Ghana and the USA and particularly fears for their futures.
At the Embassy learning of the result, Chanelle Nicole Fraizer, 25 from Texas in the USA said while she supported Clinton, the outcome showed Americans couldn't handle another democrat in office.
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Identifying as Filipino and black, Fraizer said she was also concerned for minorities in the USA.
“It's very, very scary. I live in Houston it is a very, very diverse city. When you look at the popular vote in Houston, Hillary won. I am a Hillary supporter, and in regards to some of the stuff he [Trump] has been saying it is unsettling. This is the president of the country. A very diverse country at that. He is making all of these kinds of really crazy statements.”
However, she said people needed to be positive.
“We now just have to move forward. We can't be upset or sad. We have to do our best as individuals and even as a country. My friends told me to stay in Ghana ..I said no it makes me want to come back faster, come home and begin working there to make sure things are better.”
It's not only Americans who are shocked at the outcome.
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Arch Bishop of Tamale Philip Naameh said while it may be hard to respect the decision of the American people, they had made their choice.
He had hope in Trump's inner political circle reigning him in.
“I think we have reached a stage in our civilisation that to go in for protectionism it is something anachronistic now. That belonged to the era of nationalism but now we are talking about universality,” he said, alluding to Trump's derisive comments through the election campaign.
“It is my hope that whoever he finds and trusts to build a government with will not let him do this kind of thing - it doesn't belong to our time. Our time belongs to universality every citizen is a citizen of the world, no matter what village you are from.
“Instead of cultivating a fear which is crippling, I would rather encourage people to have a great hope that the civilisation we have come to achieve should be promoted - not thrown out.”
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