Oguaa Bans Funerals To Receive Obama
HE Oguaa Traditional Council has, with immediate effect, placed a ban on all funeral celebrations in the Cape Coast metropolis until after the visit of President Obama.
Saturdays are traditionally funeral days in most parts of Ghana and many people will hardly sacrifice that occasion for anything else.
Even though the first US couple are expected to spend only a few hours in the ancient city, the traditional authorities, and indeed the people, are prepared to postpone their sacred duty to the dead.
The ban therefore seeks to create a platform for the residents to give Mr Obama a rousing welcome, according to the paramount chief of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwasi Atta II, who gave the directive.
He said it will afford the people the chance to turn up in their numbers to welcome President Obama.
“The people are ready and pleased for the privilege to play host to such an important personality”, he said.
Osabarima Kwasi Atta told the Times that, the visit would bring great benefits to the region and the nation at large adding that it would lay the foundation for investment opportunities for all especially the tourism sector.
It will also help to put Cape Coast on the world map and that calls for enough preparation to make the visit a historic one.
He urged residents to build on the foundation that would be laid during the visit to promote development of the area.
But with barely 62 hours to the grand arrival of President Obama, sale of Obama paraphernalia which had dominated commercial activities of weeks yesterday showed a significant dip reports Clement Atagra.
From T-shirts to cloths, jerseys, and head scarves to bags, there was generally wanted interest as compare to previous days.
Dealers attributed the sudden decline in sales to the latest announcement that President Obama will not be addressing a public gathering.
At the Osu Oxford Street, the Arts Centre and parts of the Central Business District, the Times leant of low patronage of the pamphernalia which to dealers was surprising.
“With the day drawing closer, I expected the sale of these merchandise to peak but beginning from today, the situation has been very bad,” Kwesi Amoateng, a seller t the Oxford street told the Times.
He said for the past one week, yesterday was the only day he did not sell any of Obama’s merchandise.
“By this time yesterday (Monday), I had sold quite a number of these items but it is not the case today’ he said.
He attributed the new development to the fact that the media has created the impression that the US President will hardly come into contact with the ordinary people.
Another dealer, Albert Atiku gave a similar account of a dip in sales of Obama’s memorabilia.
“People at first were buying these merchandise because we all thought it was giving to be like former President Clinton’s visit where people lined up the streets to welcome him but now we are told he will only come to the conference centre where only invited guests will attend so people do not want to waste their money”, he said.
At the Arts Centre, Ras Botwe said there was not much difference between sales of Obama merchandise for previous days and yesterday.
He only complained that the enthusiasm in terms of window shopping had warned but could not tell reason.
Madam Agnes Boateng, who sells cloths t the Central Business District the situation in terms of sales was not as encouraging as in previous days.
“I made an average of GH¢50 every day but today just one person has asked for the price of a cloth but did not met even buy it,” she complained.
The Times also spoke with Joseph Antwi and Linda Armah who had bought a T-shirt and a cloth respectively.
They said they will keep them as souvenir because they will not have the opportunity to see Obama.
Meanwhile, the Police Administration says, it has put in place adequate security measures towards President Barack Obama’s visit to Ghana this week, reports Francis Asamoah Tuffour.
Speaking to the Times yesterday, the Director of Police Public Affairs Directorate, Deputy Superintendent (DSP) Samuel Kwesi Ofori said a number of police personnel would be deployed on the ceremonial routes to ensure that everything goes on smoothly.
“They will be within the Kotoka International Airport, the stadium area and the castle”, he said.
DSP Ofori said that the Ghanaian security and their counterparts from the US, have been holding talks on their collaborative world towards the visit.
If it becomes necessary for some streets to be closed, the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) will do that and will accordingly inform the public.
He therefore appealed to the public to bear with the security when this happens.
“The Police will also urge spectators to stay within the limits that the police will direct,” he said.
DSP Ofori said that similar preparatory work is underway in Cape Coast to provide total security, adding that the security agencies are doing their best to ensure that they discharge their duties dispassionately.