Obama's in Ghana

Friday July 10, 2009

obama ghana accra visit president obamas in africa

The Obama family has arrived in Ghana, they'll spend the next 24 hours visiting Accra and the Cape Coast. Obama print dresses, t-shirts, key rings and all kinds of paraphernalia have been doing a roaring trade. Many Ghanaians won't actually get to see the President and his family since security is fairly tight, but the nation is excited to be the first sub-Saharan African country to be hosting a visit.

The fact that this President has roots in Africa makes it all the more exciting. Naturally the Kenyans would have liked to be the first to host a visit by Obama as President, but the violence that came after their elections last year made Ghana the more politically attractive option. Oh, and Ghana has oil as well.

Many American visitors to Ghana come to pay their respect to the millions of slaves who were shipped from Ghana's coastal forts. The Obama's are no exception and they will visit Cape Coast Castle. The Cape Coast Castle is a World Heritage site, it played a prominent role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Daily guided tours, which the Obama's will no doubt be taking, include the slave dungeons, Palaver hall, as well as the grave of an English Governor. The castle was the headquarters for the British colonial administration for nearly 200 years.