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| Obama speaks of hopes for Africa | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| US President Barack Obama, on his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa since taking office, has said Africa must take charge of its own destiny in the world. | |
| Mr Obama also told parliament during his one-day stay in Ghana that good governance was vital for development. | |
| Major challenges awaited Africans in the new century, he said, but vowed that the US would help the continent. | |
| 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. |
| Ghana was chosen as the destination for the president's visit because of its strong democratic record. | |
| "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. |
| Africa's choice | Africa's choice |
| Speaking to parliament shortly after that meeting, Mr Obama wore a broad grin as he was greeted at the podium by a series of rousing horn blasts from within the chamber. | Speaking to parliament shortly after that meeting, Mr Obama wore a broad grin as he was greeted at the podium by a series of rousing horn blasts from within the chamber. |
| Development depends upon good governance. And that is a responsibility that can only be met by Africans US President Barack Obama | Development depends upon good governance. And that is a responsibility that can only be met by Africans US President Barack Obama |
| "Congress needs one of them," he joked, before turning to more serious matters. | "Congress needs one of them," he joked, before turning to more serious matters. |
| "I have come here to Ghana for a simple reason," the US president said: "The 21st Century will be shaped by what happens not just in Rome or Moscow or Washington, but by what happens in Ghana as well." | "I have come here to Ghana for a simple reason," the US president said: "The 21st Century will be shaped by what happens not just in Rome or Moscow or Washington, but by what happens in Ghana as well." |
| Delivering a message that "Africa's future is up to Africans", Mr Obama conceded that the legacy of colonialism had helped breed conflict on the continent. | Delivering a message that "Africa's future is up to Africans", Mr Obama conceded that the legacy of colonialism had helped breed conflict on the continent. |
| "But the West is not responsible for the destruction of the Zimbabwean economy over the last decade, or wars in which children are enlisted as combatants," he added. | "But the West is not responsible for the destruction of the Zimbabwean economy over the last decade, or wars in which children are enlisted as combatants," he added. |
| He praised Ghana's own progress, governance and economic growth, saying Ghana's achievements were less dramatic than the liberation struggles of the 20th Century but would ultimately be more significant. | He praised Ghana's own progress, governance and economic growth, saying Ghana's achievements were less dramatic than the liberation struggles of the 20th Century but would ultimately be more significant. |
| "Development depends upon good governance," Mr Obama told legislators. "That is the ingredient which has been missing in far too many places, for far too long. | "Development depends upon good governance," Mr Obama told legislators. "That is the ingredient which has been missing in far too many places, for far too long. |
| "And that is a responsibility that can only be met by Africans." | "And that is a responsibility that can only be met by Africans." |
| 'Yes you can' | |
| Expanding on his message, Mr Obama said four key areas were critical to the future of Africa and of the entire developing world, citing democracy, opportunity, health and the peaceful resolution of conflict. | |
| 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 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 hope amid dark memories Send us your comments |
| He hailed Ghana's democratic society, calling for strong parliaments, honest police, independent judges and a free press across Africa. | |
| He pledged to continue strong US support for public healthcare initiatives in Africa, and called for sensible use of natural resources such as oil in the face of the threat of climate change. | |
| "Africa is not the crude caricature of a continent at war," Mr Obama added. "But for far too many Africans, conflict is a part of life, as constant as the sun," describing wars as a "millstone around Africa's neck". | |
| "You have the power to hold your leaders accountable, and to build institutions that serve the people," Mr Obama said, describing freedom as Africa's "inheritance" and urging the continent to beat disease, end conflict and bring long-lasting change. | |
| In an echo of his presidential election campaign, he drew his speech to a close with a version of his trademark slogan: "Yes you can," he told the gathered legislators. | |
| Tight security | |
| 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". | |
| But security is tight for the president's visit, and few ordinary Ghanaians will have the chance to glimpse the first African-American President of the United States. | |
| Meeting Mr Mills for breakfast at the presidential castle - once the seat of European slave-traders - Mr Obama praised the way the country was run and said it showcased possibilities for other African states. | Meeting Mr Mills for breakfast at the presidential castle - once the seat of European slave-traders - Mr Obama praised the way the country was run and said it showcased possibilities for other African states. |
| Posters of President Obama and his wife are everywhere in Accra | |
| 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. |
| 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 Accra, for a glimpse of the president during his 24-hour stay in Ghana. | People have poured into 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". |
| 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. |
| Just before leaving for Ghana, he said: "There is no reason why Africa cannot be self-sufficient when it comes to food". | Just before leaving for Ghana, he said: "There is no reason why Africa cannot be self-sufficient when it comes to food". |
| 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. |
| Cape Coast, about 160km (100 miles) west of Accra, has even suspended funerals on account of Mr Obama's impending visit. | Cape Coast, about 160km (100 miles) west of Accra, has even suspended funerals on account of Mr Obama's impending visit. |