Obama visits Ghana

President Obama came to Ghana on July 11th. This was his first official visit to a sub-Saharran country, and the significance of that was not lost on the Ghanaians. I happened to be home for Pam’s graduation in May when this was announced and I had 3 Ghanaian friends call me they were so excited. The country was literally buzzing with anticipation for the two months before his arrival. The entire city started a mass clean up/spruce up anywhere they thought Obama was going to visit. Posters were hung, curbs were painted, and t-shirts/fabric/US souvenirs were sold. Also, and I guess this happens anytime there is a Presidential visit, the rumor mill began about where he was going to visit. It was generally agreed that he’d visit Cape Coast (the location of the oldest and largest slave castles in Africa) but where else would he go?? Would he make a big speech, would he go to a school, a town, a hospital, would he go to Eunice's banana stand????? Articles of speculation appeared in the papers . When the week neared I was told that I could have a special ‘VIP’ ticket (as could Pam) along with other diplomats/Fulbrighters/Peace Corps folks etc., to stand on the tarmac before Obama flew home and hear the goodbyes at the end of the day from both Obama and John Atta Mills (Ghana’s also newly elected ‘Prez’ as they call him in the papers).

On Sat July 11th most of the roads in Accra were closed. I think 99% of the police from the entire country were in Accra that day! Obama began by making a speech in Parliament. Almost as many Ghanaians watched the speech as normally watch a ‘Black Stars Game’ (the national soccer team) and that’s a lot! He then flew to Cape Coast and was back at the airport to say his goodbyes by 6. We had left in escorted busses for the airport hours before he was due to speak because of security checks etc. There were also about 2000 Ghanaians who’d been given general admission tickets who were waiting relatively patiently at the airport. They were dressed in all sorts of USA garb and waving flags from both countries.
We milled around and talked to people while waiting. Air Force One was parked and ready to go and it was very cool to see it up close. There were dancers and drummers and a band entertaining us while we waited. The podium where Obama and Mills spoke was very close so we really got a great view. What fun that Pam and I were there for this!…..