Pool Report: Obama in Ghana
Left the Holiday Inn at 8:55 a.m. Potus is in one of the traditional armored black limos and trailed by a particularly large motorcade. The streets were lined by police officers in blue-gay uniforms, one every 100 feet or so at first, then closer together as we moved more into town, facing away from the road to watch for threats coming toward the motorcade. Generally they did not appear to have firearms. Large posters of Potus were on display at several points along the way, and further into town there were more with his picture next to John Mills Atta. “Welcome President Obama,” said a banner draped down several floors of an apartment building. “Ghana Adores You,” said a billboard featuring a picture of both Potus and Flotus. The streets were completely cleared of vehicles other than those of the motorcade. Small clutches of people gathered along the road watching at various points along the way but not massive crowds at all.
Potus passed neat neighborhoods of houses and small roadside markets set up in metal containers, a mix of gleaming new office buildings next to half built shells of other buildings. The crowds thickened as he pulled into the castle and soldiers in green camouflage guarded the gates. One man blew on a trombone as Potus passed at 9:10 a.m. The castle grounds are perched on the sea, with white buildings and swaying palm trees. The day is overcast and slightly muggy but there is a nice breeze coming off the water.
Potus emerged from his limousine at 9:11 a.m. for an arrival ceremony that could not be held last night at the airport because, we were told, it was too dark. Soldiers in sharp red jackets, blue trousers and hats and white gloves stood at attention holding Kalashnikov rifles as the Star Spangled Banner was played and a multi-gun salute was fired. Potus, wearing classic dark suit, pinkish tie and what appeared to be the US flag pin on his lapel, stood in a small gazebo next to John Atta Mills and held his hand over his heart as the American national anthem was played. The Ghanaian anthem was played and then Potus reviewed the troops. Then, oddly, the band played the Star Spangled a second time and Potus again clapped his hand over his heart, then came Ghana's anthem again.
After about 10 minutes, it was over and the presidents and their entourages headed inside for meetings. Flotus and the kids did not come but we saw With
Hundreds of Ghanaians are waiting for the presidents in a large tent set up for breakfast outside the buildings and decorated with red, yellow and green banners.
Pool report 2:
Potus and President John Atta Mills made brief remarks to the pool and then walked outside to visit the dignitaries waiting in the tent.
The two presidents entered a room inside and sat down together on a couch about 10:10 a.m. President Mills welcomed Potus and thanked him for making Ghana his first stop in sub-Saharan Africa. "This encourages us to sustain the gains that we have made in our democratic process," he said. He added: "I can say without any fear of contradiction that all Ghanaians want to see you. I wish it were possible for me to send you to every home in Ghana."
Potus thanked him and praised Ghana for its progress and President Mills as “a democratic leader who did it the right way.” He said: “We think that Ghana can be an extraordinary model for success throughout the continent.” Repeating the White House rationale for such a short stop, he said he wanted to come after Russia and the G-8 to make clear African countries are not simply the subject of a single week-long tour each presidency. And he noted: “I'm very familiar with East Africa. I've been to South Africa. But I've never been to a West African country.” Please check transcript.
After five minutes, your pool was hustled outside to the large tent where the presidents were soon greeted by hundreds of prominent Ghanaians, many in colorful outfits. Among those on hand were representatives of all political parties, foreign envoys and all living former presidents of Ghana. Over the loudspeakers played a song that celebrated Potus's ascension, the refrain of which was, “Barack, Barack, Barack Obama.” Another line that repeated several times: “As you keep the fire burning, black president…”
There were a few other lines that seemed curious, including one that said: “Judgment will come with Barack for legalizing unnecessary abortions in Africa.” Another line referred to bombing innocent people and there was also a rat-a-tat-tat of gunfire. Unclear exactly what the message was. The guys playing the music over the loudspeakers showed us the CD – the song, called “Barack Obama,” is by a group called Black Rasta. (The second track on the CD after “Barack Obama” is called “Cocaine in the Palace.”)
As the presidents arrived, an announcer said over the loudspeaker: “Show some love for the president of Ghana and the president of the United States.”
The crowd applauded politely but not raucously. “You can do better than that,” the announcer chided.
As the presidents made their way down the center aisle of the tent, Potus shaking hands and smiling, the announcer kept up a steady patter of commentary, with Black Rasta continuing to play in the background throughout (“Barack, Barack, Barack Obama.”)
“The first black president of the United States!” he called out. "History! History! History is being made today in Ghana where democracy has become the watchword of all Ghanaian people. Africa meets one of its illustrious sons, Barack Obama.”
A minute later: “Africa be proud!”
And then: “Enjoy and savor the moment. History in the making!”
After a while, Flotus arrived, wearing a white sleeveless outfit with her hair up and accompanied by Ghana's first lady. The two first couples then sat a table and your pool was ushered away to hold in the motorcade. Potus moved out from the castle en route to the hospital at 11 a.m.
Also we asked Robert Gibbs to talk about why Potus's events are so decidedly low key compared to the much more widely attended stadium-type events he is known for (and especially compared to President Clinton visit here in 1998). Gibbs obliged by sending this by email a few minutes later: “The President wanted to use this visit to shine a light on Ghana and on what it is doing so successfully rather than on him. What is clear is that we can and should do more in Africa, but we also need Africans to be full and equal partners. That's happening in Ghana, and the President wants to highlight that more than anything.”
