Why Obama chose Ghana

President Barack Obama's decision to make Ghana his first port of call in his visit to sub-Saharan Africa since he took office in January 2009, has received overwhelming endorsement from Americans who described it as a well-thought-out trip.

For now, even though the purpose of the visit has not been revealed, experts say it is for strategic reasons.

Participants at a 4-day workshop on deliberative democracy in Dayton, Ohio, were of the opinion that Ghana stands tall among the comity of nations in Africa, and that might have informed the US President's decision.

According to Dr David Mathews, President of Kettering Foundation, organizers of the workshop, Ghana has a very good image in the United States, saying he was therefore not surprised about the choice.

Dr. Mathews, who on Tuesday met President Obama one-on-one in Washington DC on a number of issues particularly on healthcare, noted that the American leader was a thoughtful person and that Ghana might have been selected for a strategic reason.

“I don't know why he chose Ghana; but I know that he doesn't do things casually. Looking at his behavior on the world stage, he must have been very thoughtful,” he said.

Ghana, the Kettering Foundation President noted, presents a future of hope for the continent, pointing out that he has a favourable impression about Ghana.

Dr Mathews sees President Obama as a leader determined to succeed and restore United States' dignity in world affairs.

According to him, after the 9/11 attack in New York, there was a worldwide sympathy for America, which appears to have diminished.

“Within the last five years that sympathy and empathy has dissipated. And President Obama seems determined to bring about policy to restore credibility of US,” he noted.

Likening President Obama to the likes of Lincoln, he pointed out that he was handling the affairs of state in a businesslike manner, saying that Obama is a pragmatic and practical politician who is not an idealist.

The US President starts a two-day visit to Ghana from July 10 to 11 during which he is expected to hold bilateral talks with President John Evans Atta Mills. President Obama will be hosted to a durbar of chiefs at Cape Coast.

He will use his first visit to sub-Saharan Africa to unveil his vision for the continent.

This is the second visit by a US President to Ghana within the last two years.

President George Bush and his wife Laura paid a three-day visit to Ghana in 2008. Before then, President Bill Clinton was in Ghana in 1998.