The itinerary of the American President during his visit to Ghana, as published on our front page yesterday, attracted angry phone calls from the public.
If the 20 or so people who called to the offices of the Times are representative of the voice of the 25 million Ghanaian population, then we can conclude that Ghanaians are not happy with the arrangement.
The itinerary said that President Obama arrives late Friday evening; that he will attend a series of meetings as well as make a major address in the Ghanaian Parliament on development and democracy; that after the speech, he and the first lady, Michelle, will tour the Cape Coast Castle, and then leave for Washington.
The callers point out that the itinerary is silent on any encounter with the public.
Those who called from Cape Coast, Elmina and Mankessim fear that there may not be any public durbar, and that from the look of things, he would be whisked into the Castle conducted round and whisked out to Accra.
They remember that before the arrival of President Clinton, Ghanaians knew, ahead of time, that he would address the public at the Independence Square.
Our staff tried to calm them with a suggestion that it was possible that changes might be made in the itinerary by arrival date.
The telephone assurances did not seem to have convinced them. As the calls kept coming through, their one message for the White House and the Castle was clear: that the public would not be satisfied with anything short of a public meeting, preferably at the Independence Square, in Accra, and the forecourt of the Cape Coast Castle.
We agree with these public sentiments.
Visits by all American Presidents to this country have been special events: people of this country have a soft spot for America, thanks to the power of the cinema and television, and of course, thanks to links with our African American brothers and sisters.
With Obama, however, the chemistry changes. The people know that he is one of them, an African — almost to the native born. Their hearts have gone out to him ever since he launched his campaign for the presidency.
There were churches in this country that organized special prayer sessions, including “all-night” sessions on the eve of the American elections — just for Obama.
Like most people in the world, including people from countries traditionally regarded as America’s enemies, Ghanaians love Obama.
This affection for him has taken on a deeper spiritual dimension ever since rumours flew about that there were Ghanaians among his bodyguards, that among some of his budding pals are Ghanaians, and more importantly, that his wife, Michelle, traces her roots to Ghana.
Ghanaians did not print special cloth for the visit of Clinton; neither did they for Bush. No billboards went up for any of the two preceding visits.
It is different now. The euphoria of expectancy shot to fever-pitch on the very day of the announcement.
Already, it is said that hundreds of people in other parts of the country are making arrangements to charter coaches to travel down for the “meeting”.
How can anybody afford to disappoint so many millions? Did the American embassy in Ghana not transmit the feeling to Washington?
Who is trying to steal the man away from the people!!!
Officials in the White House and the Castle who are drawing up the visiting President’s itinerary had better go back to the drawing board.
If the 20 or so people who called to the offices of the Times are representative of the voice of the 25 million Ghanaian population, then we can conclude that Ghanaians are not happy with the arrangement.
The itinerary said that President Obama arrives late Friday evening; that he will attend a series of meetings as well as make a major address in the Ghanaian Parliament on development and democracy; that after the speech, he and the first lady, Michelle, will tour the Cape Coast Castle, and then leave for Washington.
The callers point out that the itinerary is silent on any encounter with the public.
Those who called from Cape Coast, Elmina and Mankessim fear that there may not be any public durbar, and that from the look of things, he would be whisked into the Castle conducted round and whisked out to Accra.
They remember that before the arrival of President Clinton, Ghanaians knew, ahead of time, that he would address the public at the Independence Square.
Our staff tried to calm them with a suggestion that it was possible that changes might be made in the itinerary by arrival date.
The telephone assurances did not seem to have convinced them. As the calls kept coming through, their one message for the White House and the Castle was clear: that the public would not be satisfied with anything short of a public meeting, preferably at the Independence Square, in Accra, and the forecourt of the Cape Coast Castle.
We agree with these public sentiments.
Visits by all American Presidents to this country have been special events: people of this country have a soft spot for America, thanks to the power of the cinema and television, and of course, thanks to links with our African American brothers and sisters.
With Obama, however, the chemistry changes. The people know that he is one of them, an African — almost to the native born. Their hearts have gone out to him ever since he launched his campaign for the presidency.
There were churches in this country that organized special prayer sessions, including “all-night” sessions on the eve of the American elections — just for Obama.
Like most people in the world, including people from countries traditionally regarded as America’s enemies, Ghanaians love Obama.
This affection for him has taken on a deeper spiritual dimension ever since rumours flew about that there were Ghanaians among his bodyguards, that among some of his budding pals are Ghanaians, and more importantly, that his wife, Michelle, traces her roots to Ghana.
Ghanaians did not print special cloth for the visit of Clinton; neither did they for Bush. No billboards went up for any of the two preceding visits.
It is different now. The euphoria of expectancy shot to fever-pitch on the very day of the announcement.
Already, it is said that hundreds of people in other parts of the country are making arrangements to charter coaches to travel down for the “meeting”.
How can anybody afford to disappoint so many millions? Did the American embassy in Ghana not transmit the feeling to Washington?
Who is trying to steal the man away from the people!!!
Officials in the White House and the Castle who are drawing up the visiting President’s itinerary had better go back to the drawing board.
