When Obama Comes

When US President Barack Obama lands in Ghana on Friday, July 10, to begin his tour of selected African countries, it would be the third time in eleven years that a sitting American President is visiting the country. The first was on March 23, 1998 when President Bill Clinton, accompanied by his wife Hillary Clinton paid a one-day visit to the country. The then president of Ghana, Flt Lt. Jerry John Rawlings and his wife Nana Konadu Agyeman, members of the diplomatic corps, ministers and government officials welcomed him at the Kotoka International Airport. The two presidents addressed a press conference that spanned many issues offering the American President the forum to talk about his administration policy towards Africa. At 12.30 p.m. president Rawlings accompanied the US president to pay a short visit to Technoserve, an American NGO based in Accra while Nana Konadu and Mrs. Hillary Clinton paid a visit to the 31st December Day Care Centre also in Accra. The event that highlighted the visit of Mr Bill Clinton was the durbar of chiefs and people of Ghana at the Independence Square in Accra. The arrival of the two presidents to the durbar was heralded by traditional music and dance performances. Ten years later on, February 19, 2008 President John Agyekum Kufuor hosted US President George Bush and his wife Mrs. Laura Bush. A state banquet was held in his honour. Among those who attended the banquet were former President J. J. Rawlings and his wife and Prof. John Atta Mills, then the former Vice President. This visit, which lasted three days was marked by sessions of bilateral talks in official circles. On the second day, president Kufuor and his counterpart held a joint press conference at the Castle and president Bush announced a $17million package for Ghana to fight malaria and a further $350 million to fight neglected tropical diseases in Africa over five years. President Bush interacted with Ghanaians when he and his host visited the Ghana International Trade Fair and met with some chiefs and private sector operators who export to the US under the African Growth Opportunity Act ( AGOA ). At exhibitions held at the Trade Fair Centre, president Bush had his first experience at touching dry cocoa beans and also used pestle and mortar to process sheanut. Perhaps the fun that he might never forget was when he engaged Nana Serwaa, a dancer, in a kete dance. While he was at the Trade Fair Centre, his wife Laura Bush and Mrs Theresa Kufuor were at Maamobi Polyclinic visiting nursing mothers and staff of the clinic. Barack Obama�s visit on Friday July 10, although to last about only one day, could turn out to be the most significant among the three because of his African descent. Eight days before the visit, the official programme for the visit has not been made public but Showbiz has learnt that when the American president accompanied by First Lady Michelle Obama arrives on the night of Friday, he will take a rest. On Saturday morning, president Mills will host president Obama to a breakfast meeting at the Castle. At about 9:30 am, president Obama will fly by helicopter to Cape Coast where he will be received by the regional Minister Miss Ama Benyiwa Doe. The two will then drive through town to meet the Oguaa Omanhen Nana Kwesi Atta at his palace. After the necessary courtesies, the visitors will take a tour of the Cape Coast Castle. By 1:00pm, president Obama will be back in Accra for lunch at the Castle with president Mills and guests and then proceed to the Independence Square for a national ceremony where he is expected to make a significant statement to Africa. Two hours later, president Obama will be on his way to the Accra Airport and away.