Ghana is clearly the place to be. We are soo popular that we got a couple of honourable mentions at the memorial service for the late Michael Jackson. Also, in just 2 days time a certain President of the world and his family will be landing at Kotoka International Airport for their first official visit to so-called Black Africa. A friend of mine (a half-Tanzanian/half-Kenyan guy) says Kenyans are still perplexed that President Obama chose Ghana over the land of his father. *Sigh*, it was all for good reasons.Our infrastructure may pale compared to Kenya, we lack the vibrant Nairobi feel and the flaming trees of Thika but we do know how to do a mean democratic election ! So how is our fair nation preparing for the historic/historical visit? I actually do not really have a clue. My route to work is through the magical Achimota forest so I avoid town completely. I did pick up a newspaper or two today and found that 10,000 police officers were being deployed for the occasion. *Yikes* Lets hope all the armed robbers stay in their homes glued to their (stolen) TV sets watching Obama magic light up Ghana with the rest of us. Apparently the Obama family will be put up in the Holiday Inn very close to the airport. *Interesting* There are a couple of things that are worrying me about the Obama visit.
1. Will this @#$@ rain ever let up? We love rain here in Africa. In fact didn't that 1980s band Toto once do a song that went "I Bless the Rains down in Africa"? #$%#$ Toto. The rain is beginning to cause serious havoc. There is flooding everywhere, loss of life, damage to property, damage to roads and of course cars in ditches. This morning I happen to come across a newly imported Range Rover stuck in a ditch as I drove through the aforementionned magical Achimota Forest. Rain, rain please go away, come back when the Obamas have gone away.
2. Where's my fuel at?: We are experiencing some bizarre petrol shortage over in the good 'ol African Beacon of hope. I was tipped off on Monday and so I rushed to fill my tank. Yesterday, others in search of fuel were not so lucky. The queues at the filling-stations are giving Accra a war-torn feel. Is this hoarding or an actual shortage? Will the Obama family catch glimpses of these queues? Will there be enough petrol to transport the Obama entourage around our fair nation?!
3. Partisan-isation of the Obama Visit: According to one (opposition-leaning) newspaper today , ex-President Kufuor has not received any invitation to join in the Obama revelry. My fears have been confirmed. The partisan politics that divide (and entertain) our nation may come to play in this historic/historical visit. Why am I not surprised? The opposition hosted President George Bush just last year and the incumbent government have been basking in the sunshine of this upcoming visit ever since it was announced. After all, there are clear parallels between the way both presidents came to power. Senator Obama, the clear under-dog in the 2008 US elections came to power spreading a message of "Change" while Professor Mills the clear under-dog in the 2008 Ghana elections came to power spreading a message of "Change ". However, credit has to be given to both ex-President Kufuor and ex-President Rawlings since they both facilitated the Ghanaian democratic dream in their various ways.
Fears aside, I can't wait for Air-Force One to land.
1. Will this @#$@ rain ever let up? We love rain here in Africa. In fact didn't that 1980s band Toto once do a song that went "I Bless the Rains down in Africa"? #$%#$ Toto. The rain is beginning to cause serious havoc. There is flooding everywhere, loss of life, damage to property, damage to roads and of course cars in ditches. This morning I happen to come across a newly imported Range Rover stuck in a ditch as I drove through the aforementionned magical Achimota Forest. Rain, rain please go away, come back when the Obamas have gone away.
2. Where's my fuel at?: We are experiencing some bizarre petrol shortage over in the good 'ol African Beacon of hope. I was tipped off on Monday and so I rushed to fill my tank. Yesterday, others in search of fuel were not so lucky. The queues at the filling-stations are giving Accra a war-torn feel. Is this hoarding or an actual shortage? Will the Obama family catch glimpses of these queues? Will there be enough petrol to transport the Obama entourage around our fair nation?!
3. Partisan-isation of the Obama Visit: According to one (opposition-leaning) newspaper today , ex-President Kufuor has not received any invitation to join in the Obama revelry. My fears have been confirmed. The partisan politics that divide (and entertain) our nation may come to play in this historic/historical visit. Why am I not surprised? The opposition hosted President George Bush just last year and the incumbent government have been basking in the sunshine of this upcoming visit ever since it was announced. After all, there are clear parallels between the way both presidents came to power. Senator Obama, the clear under-dog in the 2008 US elections came to power spreading a message of "Change" while Professor Mills the clear under-dog in the 2008 Ghana elections came to power spreading a message of "Change ". However, credit has to be given to both ex-President Kufuor and ex-President Rawlings since they both facilitated the Ghanaian democratic dream in their various ways.Fears aside, I can't wait for Air-Force One to land.
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