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| Obama cites importance of Africa | Obama cites importance of Africa |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| US President Barack Obama, on his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa, is to tell lawmakers he hopes Africa realises it is not separate from world affairs. | |
| Mr Obama, addressing Ghana's parliament during 24 hours in the country, will say that good governance can flourish. | |
| Ghana was chosen as the destination for the president's visit because of its strong democratic record. | Ghana was chosen as the destination for the president's visit because of its strong democratic record. |
| The US president's trip comes at the end of a summit of eight of the world's most powerful nations, held in Italy. | The US president's trip comes at the end of a summit of eight of the world's most powerful nations, held in Italy. |
| "We wanted to make sure to come to an African country after the G8 and after my business in Moscow to emphasise that Africa is not separate from world affairs," Mr Obama said after meeting President John Atta Mills in the capital, Accra. | "We wanted to make sure to come to an African country after the G8 and after my business in Moscow to emphasise that Africa is not separate from world affairs," Mr Obama said after meeting President John Atta Mills in the capital, Accra. |
| "What happens here has an impact everywhere," he said. | "What happens here has an impact everywhere," he said. |
| Model | Model |
| Mr Obama praised the way the country was run and said it showcased possibilities for other African states. | Mr Obama praised the way the country was run and said it showcased possibilities for other African states. |
| What happens here has an impact everywhere US President Barack Obama | What happens here has an impact everywhere US President Barack Obama |
| Mr Mills was elected in a peaceful, transparent vote last December in which the former ruling party conceded power. | Mr Mills was elected in a peaceful, transparent vote last December in which the former ruling party conceded power. |
| "We think that Ghana can be an extraordinary model for success throughout the continent," Mr Obama said before taking part in an outdoor breakfast at the presidential castle - once the seat of European slave-traders. | "We think that Ghana can be an extraordinary model for success throughout the continent," Mr Obama said before taking part in an outdoor breakfast at the presidential castle - once the seat of European slave-traders. |
| Later, Mr Obama is expected to visit the Gold Coast Castle, a seaside fortress converted to the slave trade by the British in the 17th Century. He will be accompanied by his wife, Michelle, a descendant of African slaves. | Later, Mr Obama is expected to visit the Gold Coast Castle, a seaside fortress converted to the slave trade by the British in the 17th Century. He will be accompanied by his wife, Michelle, a descendant of African slaves. |
| People have poured into the capital, Accra, for a glimpse of the president during his 24-hour stay in Ghana. | People have poured into the capital, Accra, for a glimpse of the president during his 24-hour stay in Ghana. |
| Mr Mills is reported to have told the US president that: "All Ghanaians want to see you". | Mr Mills is reported to have told the US president that: "All Ghanaians want to see you". |
| On the streets of Accra, many billboards welcoming Barack Obama have been erected, including one showing an image of the president and wife with the words: "Ghana loves you". | On the streets of Accra, many billboards welcoming Barack Obama have been erected, including one showing an image of the president and wife with the words: "Ghana loves you". |
| 'Self-sufficient' | 'Self-sufficient' |
| Mr Obama arrived in the capital late on Friday, fresh from the G8 summit in Italy where heads of state agreed on a $20bn (£12.3bn) fund to bolster agriculture - the main source of income for many sub-Saharan Africans. | Mr Obama arrived in the capital late on Friday, fresh from the G8 summit in Italy where heads of state agreed on a $20bn (£12.3bn) fund to bolster agriculture - the main source of income for many sub-Saharan Africans. |
| Posters of President Obama and his wife are everywhere in Accra | Posters of President Obama and his wife are everywhere in Accra |
| Just before leaving for the Ghanian capital, Accra, he said: "There is no reason why Africa cannot be self-sufficient when it comes to food". | Just before leaving for the Ghanian capital, Accra, he said: "There is no reason why Africa cannot be self-sufficient when it comes to food". |
| Ahead of the trip, Mr Obama, who visited Egypt in early June, said Ghana had been chosen for the visit because of it had a functioning democracy, a president who was serious about reducing corruption and it had seen significant economic growth. | Ahead of the trip, Mr Obama, who visited Egypt in early June, said Ghana had been chosen for the visit because of it had a functioning democracy, a president who was serious about reducing corruption and it had seen significant economic growth. |
| The BBC's Will Ross says Mr Obama will find it a challenge in the current economic climate to match some of the achievements of his predecessor, George W Bush, when it comes to health care in Africa, especially in the fight against HIV. | The BBC's Will Ross says Mr Obama will find it a challenge in the current economic climate to match some of the achievements of his predecessor, George W Bush, when it comes to health care in Africa, especially in the fight against HIV. |
| The visit to the slave fort at Cape Coast Castle will be a poignant moment for the country's first African-American president and for his wife Michelle, whose ancestors are believed to have come from West Africa, our correspondent says. | The visit to the slave fort at Cape Coast Castle will be a poignant moment for the country's first African-American president and for his wife Michelle, whose ancestors are believed to have come from West Africa, our correspondent says. |
| Tight security | Tight security |
| Posters of Barack and Michelle Obama are to be seen everywhere in Accra, where their arrival was eagerly awaited. | Posters of Barack and Michelle Obama are to be seen everywhere in Accra, where their arrival was eagerly awaited. |
| The White House reported that over 5,000 Africans had sent text message to the US president ahead of the visit. | The White House reported that over 5,000 Africans had sent text message to the US president ahead of the visit. |
| ANALYSIS Martin Plaut, BBC News For Ghanaians, there is little doubt that they deserve to be Mr Obama's first real African destination since assuming office. Nigeria was not really suitable, given the question marks over the way in which President Umaru Yar'Adua was elected. Kenya, home of Mr Obama's father, experienced post-election violence. Ethiopia has jailed the leader of the opposition, and South Africa's Jacob Zuma is new in the post and something of an unknown quantity. Not only is Ghana clearly democratic, but it has some of the African oil on which the US increasingly depends, and there is the symbolic link with slavery, from which so many African-Americans trace their heritage. So Ghana ticks Mr Obama's boxes - a suitable stage on which to launch the president's Africa policy on the continent itself. Obama brings hope amid dark memories Send us your comments | ANALYSIS Martin Plaut, BBC News For Ghanaians, there is little doubt that they deserve to be Mr Obama's first real African destination since assuming office. Nigeria was not really suitable, given the question marks over the way in which President Umaru Yar'Adua was elected. Kenya, home of Mr Obama's father, experienced post-election violence. Ethiopia has jailed the leader of the opposition, and South Africa's Jacob Zuma is new in the post and something of an unknown quantity. Not only is Ghana clearly democratic, but it has some of the African oil on which the US increasingly depends, and there is the symbolic link with slavery, from which so many African-Americans trace their heritage. So Ghana ticks Mr Obama's boxes - a suitable stage on which to launch the president's Africa policy on the continent itself. Obama brings hope amid dark memories Send us your comments |
| On arrival, President Obama and his family were met by President Atta Mills, and treated to a colourful welcome featuring drummers and traditional dancers. | On arrival, President Obama and his family were met by President Atta Mills, and treated to a colourful welcome featuring drummers and traditional dancers. |
| Ghanaian musicians have written songs to mark the visit and it is clear that millions of Ghanaians would love to see Mr Obama, our correspondent says. | Ghanaian musicians have written songs to mark the visit and it is clear that millions of Ghanaians would love to see Mr Obama, our correspondent says. |
| However, there will be few opportunities for them to do so during his 24-hour stay. | However, there will be few opportunities for them to do so during his 24-hour stay. |
| When former President Bill Clinton came more than a decade ago, he addressed hundreds of thousands of cheering Ghanaians. | When former President Bill Clinton came more than a decade ago, he addressed hundreds of thousands of cheering Ghanaians. |
| But post-9/11, security is tighter and all events are for invited guests only, our correspondent notes. | But post-9/11, security is tighter and all events are for invited guests only, our correspondent notes. |
| Barack Obama visited sub-Saharan Africa while a US senator, making a trip to Kenya - his father's homeland - in August 2006. Cape Coast, a town about 160km (100 miles) west of Accra, has even suspended funerals on account of Mr Obama's impending visit to its old slave fort. | Barack Obama visited sub-Saharan Africa while a US senator, making a trip to Kenya - his father's homeland - in August 2006. Cape Coast, a town about 160km (100 miles) west of Accra, has even suspended funerals on account of Mr Obama's impending visit to its old slave fort. |
| "We banned all funeral activities in Cape Coast because we want to give a befitting welcome to the US president," Ghana's central regional minister, Ama Benyiwaa Doe, told AFP news agency. | "We banned all funeral activities in Cape Coast because we want to give a befitting welcome to the US president," Ghana's central regional minister, Ama Benyiwaa Doe, told AFP news agency. |
| "The dead can be buried later but Obama is here for once and we must pay all attention to him." | "The dead can be buried later but Obama is here for once and we must pay all attention to him." |