Hello fellow Kossacks,
Greetings from Ghana where there is fever-pitch anticipation of President Obama’s scheduled 24-hour visit from Friday July 10th through Saturday the 11th. The title of a brand new jingle that has been blaring endlessly here on the airwaves, really capture the mood of the whole country – Ghanaians have literally been "Jump[ing] up high for Obama." I have been here in Ghana all summer and thought I should fill you all in on some context and tidbits related to the US President’s visit; stuff that the White House reporters may or may not cover. Their track record on coverage of Africa and its complexities rarely warrants their ink unless it’s about the usual fare of conflicts, disease and recently "War on Terror." This is Part 1 of a two-part diary, and Part 2 will be posted after Pres. Obama's visit.
Anyway, I must state my own biases up front. Ghana is my native country (I'm now a US citizen), and that love of homeland (both the good and the bad parts) certainly colors what I am writing here.
As I said, Pres. Obama’s visit is a VERY BIG deal here in Ghana!!!!.....
[More after the jump]