Ghanaian media awaits Obama
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Sena Atoklo is a broadcast journalist and resident of Ghana who has worked with the BBC and ITV in the UK, and ETV South Africa. Over the next week, he’ll be sending in posts to the ONE Blog on Obama’s visit to Ghana and how Ghanaians are reacting to it.
Ghanaians are excited and waiting with baited breath for the arrival of U.S President Barack Obama at exactly 20:30GMT when Air force One touches down at the Kotoka International Airport today. The fever did not really grip Ghanaians until this week. A number of them were expectant but when the months and weeks became days, the reality hit them that the U.S President was indeed visiting.
The Ghanaian media is making sure that it is not left out of the whole frenzy of welcoming President Obama. Screaming headlines of President Obama’s visit greets everyone in the mornings. This week has seen a lot of coverage on the Obama visit. The debate in the media is whether it was the current NDC government that lobbied for his visit to the country or if the trip had been planned a while ago and that no matter the party in government he would be visiting Ghana anyway. Remember, Ghana had a closely fought general election last year, and it is not strange to see Ghanaians still divided along political lines. The media plays a part in influencing the thoughts and feelings of the ordinary Ghanaians. And since the big headlines about his visit has given Ghanaians something to talk about, the media at this point are still scrambling for accreditation. Trust me that they will have more than enough news stories to churn out for at least the next four weeks.
-Sena Atoklo
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July 11, 2009 at 9:28 am
By the time you will be done reading this short blog, the most powerful man in the world will probably be giving a speech in the most neglected continent in the world… I am wondering how much different will Prez Obama’s visit to Ghana (Africa) make to this pathetic continent. I will be expecting the prez to share with the leaders of Ghana and the rest of Africa how they need to be honest to their peopple. They should be leaders instead of masters of their people and how they should stop fighting in the name of the people. Africa is alleged to be endowed with many riches in its belly. But Alas, its citezenery are the most poorest in the world .The best of its people live in abstract poverty, below UN’s poverty line , meaning they live on about 1.25 dollars a day, whiles the world profits off the continent’s resources… so what is the big deal about Obamas visit to Ghana… both clinton and Bush went to Ghana, where is the Change I wonder if Obama’s visit will be any different.. African politicians need to put their acts together ,clean their messes and work to better the lives of their citezens.. Dear mr president before you fly out of Ghana I want to share a quote from the Father of Pan Africanism and the founder of modern day Ghana with you. ”Africa is a paradox which illustrates and highlights neo-colonialism. Her earth is rich, yet the products that come from above and below the soil continue to enrich, not Africans predominantly, but groups and individuals who operate to Africa’s impoverishment”. (Kwame Nkrumah (1900-1972), Ghanaian president.
July 11, 2009 at 9:30 am
By the time you will be done reading this short blog, the most powerful man in the world will probably be giving a speech in the most neglected continent in the world… I am wondering how much different will Prez Obama’s visit to Ghana (Africa) make to this pathetic continent. I will be expecting the prez to share with the leaders of Ghana and the rest of Africa how they need to be honest to their people. They should be leaders instead of masters of their people and how they should stop fighting in the name of the people. Africa is alleged to be endowed with many riches in its belly. But Alas, its citezenery are the most poorest in the world .The best of its people live in abstract poverty, below UN’s poverty line , meaning they live on about 1.25 dollars a day, whiles the world profits off the continent’s resources… so what is the big deal about Obamas visit to Ghana… both clinton and Bush went to Ghana, where is the Change I wonder if Obama’s visit will be any different.. African politicians need to put their acts together ,clean their messes and work to better the lives of their citezens.. Dear mr president before you fly out of Ghana I want to share a quote from the Father of Pan Africanism and the founder of modern day Ghana with you. ”Africa is a paradox which illustrates and highlights neo-colonialism. Her earth is rich, yet the products that come from above and below the soil continue to enrich, not Africans predominantly, but groups and individuals who operate to Africa’s impoverishment”. (Kwame Nkrumah (1900-1972), Ghanaian president.