Obama Arrives in Ghana

By VOA News 10 July 2000
U.S. President Barack Obama has arrived in Ghana, on his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa as president.
The U.S. president arrived in the West African country late Friday, following a three-day summit in Italy of the Group of Eight nations.
Mr. Obama says he chose Ghana as his first destination in the region because of what he considers to be its strong democratic system.
Excitement over the visit has been mounting in the Ghanaian capital, Accra. Many Ghanaians took to the streets Friday to celebrate and there was a parade featuring a mock figure of the first African-American U.S. president.
Huge billboards also can be seen across the city, featuring the images of Ghanaian President John Atta Mills and Mr. Obama with the caption "Partnership for Change" and the phrase "Akwaaba," which means "Welcome home" in the local Akan language.
Mr. Obama's father was from Kenya. President Mills says many people in Ghana and neighboring countries want to see President Obama because they regard him as a hero.
While in Ghana, Mr. Obama is scheduled to meet with President Mills on Saturday as well as former Ghanaian leaders John Kufuor and Jerry Rawlings.
President Mills took office in January after a narrow election victory that saw the ruling party concede defeat peacefully.
In an interview with VOA, the Ghanaian leader said he believes President Obama wants to highlight Ghana's peaceful transition of power and democratic credentials as an example for Africa.

President Obama also will address Ghana's parliament and tour a former slave trading center, Cape Coast Castle, where African slaves were shipped across the Atlantic for almost 300 years. He is due to return to Washington at the end of the visit.
Ghanaian authorities say 10,000 police officers are providing security for the visit.
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