Obama in Ghana

By Kwasi Kpodo and Jeff Mason Kwasi Kpodo And Jeff Mason

ACCRA (Reuters) – President Barack Obama was given a hero's welcome in Ghana on Friday on his first visit to sub-Saharan Africa since taking office as the first black president of the United States.

It was a poignant moment for Africans as the leader of the world's most powerful country, the son of an African immigrant, and his wife Michelle, the descendant of Africans shipped to America as slaves, stepped onto the red carpet in Accra.

In Ghana, he is expected to deliver a message on the importance of good governance in a country that defies stereotypes of a continent blighted by conflict, coups and crisis.

"Part of the reason that we're traveling to Ghana is because you've got there a functioning democracy, a president who's serious about reducing corruption, and you've seen significant economic growth," Obama said before leaving Italy.

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Obama, his wife and two daughters were met at the airport by President John Atta Mills, elected in a peaceful, transparent vote last December that set an example for the continent.

Economic reforms in the cocoa and gold producing country, set to begin pumping oil next year, also helped bring unprecedented investment and growth before the impact of the global financial crisis.

Obama shook hands with local dignitaries, some in the colorful traditional kente cloth. To cheers, he moved briefly to the beat of the traditional drummers in the humid evening air of the coastal capital.

"He could hear the music before we opened the doors," said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs. "This is both a special and an important visit for him personally as president but also for our country to articulate a vision for Africa."

HOPE
Ghanaians packed the dark streets around the airport, hoping for a glimpse of the president, who was driven quickly to his hotel without making any public statement.

"It's a great moment for Ghana and Africa. We have to celebrate our own," said driver Emmanuel Tsawe, who covered his 43-seater bus with Obama posters.

"I believe he has good intentions for the continent and we must cooperate with him," he said.

But Africa has not been a top priority for an administration grappling with the global financial crisis.

Few expect a shift in policy and the main message will be on the importance of good governance and the wise use of aid, such as the G8 commitment made in Italy to spend $20 billion on improving food security in poor countries.

Obama, whose father is from Kenya, drew on his own background to stress the importance of transparency and strong institutions in bringing change.

"My father travelled to the United States a mere 50 years ago and yet now I have family members who live in villages -- they themselves are not going hungry, but live in villages where hunger is real," he said.
"If you talk to people on the ground in Africa, certainly in Kenya, they will say that part of the issue here is the institutions aren't working for ordinary people. And so governance is a vital concern that has to be addressed."

Obama was due to address parliament on Saturday before visiting Cape Coast Castle, a fort used in the transatlantic slave trade. He and his family will spend less than 24 hours in Ghana before returning to the United States.

[Muse A Muse]

My man Oooobamaaa

[Ab-Titchaz]

President Barack Obama and first Lady Michelle Obama arrive in Accra, Ghana with their daughters Sasha and Malia Friday, July 10, 2009.




US President Barack Obama (L), smiles after disembarking from Air Force One with his family upon arrival in Accra, Ghana, on July 10, 2009. Obama arrived in Ghana on his first visit to sub-Saharan Africa since taking office. He was welcomed at Kotoka international airport in the oceanside capital Accra by Ghana's President John Atta-Mills to traditional Ashante drumming, chanting and dancing.





A sign welcoming U.S. President Barack Obama and wife Michelle hangs over a busy neighborhood street where Obama will pass during his visit, in Accra, Ghana Friday, July 10, 2009. Obama arrives in Ghana late Friday for his first visit to sub-Saharan Africa since taking office.

[Ab-Titchaz]

Hii quote kali kweli....

	Quote:
	"The dead can be buried later but Obama is here for once and we must pay all attention to him." Ama Benyiwaa Doe Ghanaian minister, explaining suspension of funerals in Cape Coast

[MwanaFalsafa1]

	Quote:	Ab-Titchaz
	Hii quote kali kweli....

Mkuu Ab kauli kama hizi ndiyo maana waafrika tunaonekana very simplistic na mambumbumbu. Yani ni kama vile anasema kwamba Obama sasa kaja shughuli zote ziwekwe pause tumpe full attention Obama. I like Obama but kauli hii inaonyesha whoever was saying it is either uneducated or very simplistic. Ila ngoja aje bwana maybe next time huyo mtoa kauli ataona ujio wa Obama ni kitu cha kawaida tu na siyo the second coming of Jesus Christ.

[Ab-Titchaz]

	Quote:	MwanaFalsafa1
	Mkuu Ab kauli kama hizi ndiyo maana waafrika tunaonekana very simplistic na mambumbumbu. Yani ni kama vile anasema kwamba Obama sasa kaja shughuli zote ziwekwe pause tumpe full attention Obama. I like Obama but kauli hii inaonyesha whoever was saying it is either uneducated or very simplistic. Ila ngoja aje bwana maybe next time huyo mtoa kauli ataona ujio wa Obama ni kitu cha kawaida to na siyo the second coming of Jesus Christ.

I concur with you 100% hata nadhani kama Obama mwenyewe
angesikia angewaambia waendelee na shughuli zao. Waafrika samtaim
tunajishukisha hadhi wenyewe tu hata bila sababu.

[MwanaFalsafa1]

	Quote:	Ab-Titchaz
	I concur with you 100% hata nadhani kama Obama mwenyewe angesikia angewaambia waendelee na shughuli zao. Waafrika samtaim tunajishukisha hadhi wenyewe tu hata bila sababu.

You are right mkuu. Sasa kwa kauli kama hizo wengine wakitusikia na kutu treat kama second rate humans tulalamike nini. Matatizo mengine waafrika tuna karibisha wenyewe unknowingly or knowingly. Kuna watu weusi subconsciecly wana waweka westerners juu. Ukoloni bwana upo in our minds wao waka take tu advantage of what was already inside of us.

[Malyamungu]

Hii kiboko, nimechoka kwa hii quote

[Kim]

Hii sio kali tu bali pia ni KUBWA KULIKO!!! Lakini haina tofauti na kauli za viongozi wengine wa kiafrika hususan Tz ambao huwa wanawakusanya vibaka na omba omba na kuwasweka ndani wakati wa ujio wa viongozi wa mataifa mengine hasa ya magharibi. Sina uhakika kama ndio "kufunika kombe ili mwanaharamu apite" au ni vinginevyo..lakini ukweli ni kwamba waafrika wengi tunaishi maisha ya kuwaridhisha wa-magharibi japo for sure they know that we are suffering a lot.

Huyu kiongozi ni mfano wa asilimia 99 ya viongozi wa Africa. Kwetu Tz hatuna jipya la kumfanya Obama atupe priority kama Ghana hasa kwenye suala zima la demokrasia, hapa ni corruption kwa kwenda mbele..kwani viongozi wa serikali wanaweza kuhamia kwenye eneo moja lanchi kwa muda katika kusaka ulaji kupitia chama lakini kunapotokea majanga kama ya MBAGALA au mengineyo viongozi wanaenda kwa mafungu tena kwa kusuasua au wasiende kabisa na bila sababu..

TULIPATA SIFA YA KUWA NCHI YA KWANZA KTK AFRIKA RAIS WETU KWENDA NYUMBA NYEUPE LAKINI TUMEKOSA SIFA YA KUWA WATU WA KWANZA KUMPOKEA RAIS KUTOKA NYUMBA NYEUPE, NI KWA VILE HATUSTAHILI NA HATUNA JIPYA ZAID YA KUJIKOMBA KWAO..

[Ab-Titchaz]