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I could not help but marvel at the decision by the Police Force last week not to grant pro-opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) elements, the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), a permit to hold a public demonstration to, among other things, draw public attention to some of the hardships in the country today.

The reason from the Police authorities was that they do not have enough personnel to give the demonstrators adequate protection. Why? Because the men are preparing for President Barack Obama's impending visit to Ghana on Friday, July 10.

It is good to hear that our Police Force is busy preparing two weeks ahead of the visit. It gives one the impression and certainly the US Embassy authorities in Accra who no doubt they have been working hand in hand with over weeks, the assurance that from the minute the Air Force One touches our soil for the third time in a decade till the following day when it takes off again with the most powerful political figure in the world today, we can count on the dutiful Ghana Police Force for the security and safety of all.

I am sure the American President will be happy to hear that his hosts have been gripped with the 'Obama fever' but I am not sure if he would embrace the explanation the Police Force gave the intended demonstrators.

The month of July is historical for both Ghana and America. Both countries are on the heels of each other marking the day their forbears gained for them freedom and liberty.

For goodness sake, I have been trying to imagine the look on Mr Obama's face if he was told that because of him some people's constitutional rights had been curtailed. He would not be amused at all. Why do I say that?

In a recent interview granted in the White House to Charles Cobb of all Africa.com, the US President said he picked Ghana as the first place to visit in black Africa because of its deep understanding of democracy, following two successful elections resulting in change of government with one very close to call.

Also, he said that he thinks our President is committed to the rule of law — the kind of democratic commitments that ensure stability in a country. According to President Obama, there is a direct correlation between governance and prosperity.

America is a love and hate country to everybody in the world today, Americans themselves know this. Some of us love it to bits though.

A land of possibilities, from their Hollywood stars to their pop stars, their advancement on the world stage, their big cars, the endless range of beauty products, their fashion, their foods – the eat all you cans — plus the way they rattle the English language.

Boy! It is all a dream wish for some. But America unfortunately, is also a hate country for others. The mere mention of the country brings outrage in others.

For sure, its people, including the President himself do not look out for or expect a perfect world where all is laughter and happiness with wide arms to receive them wherever they might find themselves.

Mr Obama certainly will not mind the Ghana Police allowing a section of the citizens to go on demonstration with full Police protection especially when he is coming with loads of his own secret service men to flood both Accra and Cape Coast.

I am even pretty sure, that knowing him, he would have made a joke out of it when here if the demonstrations were allowed to go on.

The man is very relaxed and knows how to relax people around him. I would not be surprised to see him hold hands or put his arm on the shoulders of our President.

No, he would not have minded citizens going on a public demonstration so far as it is within their rights. Remember where he is coming from?

A true democrat, he is from a minority group living in a country of the majority group where they preach equality but not in reality.

He has fought all odds, stood for the rights of the individual and has been consistent in that fight thus bringing him to where he is now.

Mr Obama would indeed be the sad man of the moment going through the media picks around the world which his office would have put together for him and realising that that shinning black star called Ghana which he has picked out of many countries in sub-Saharan Africa to visit after all does not know him and what he propagates.

Well, the American President will cast his mind back to his first official visit to England in April when he attended the G-20 Summit. Continued    Source: DAILY GRAPHIC - Daily Graphic

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