U.S. President Obama on historic visit in Ghana

by Olatunbosun Awoniyi

LAGOS, July 11 (Xinhua) -- U. S. President Barack Obama has been in Ghana for a historical two-day visit and he was given more than a hero's welcome on arriving in the west African nation late on Friday evening. It is his first visit to a sub-Saharan African nation since he took office in January this year.

U.S. President Barack Obama, his wife Michelle Obama and their children Malia and Sasha (2nd R) arrive in Accra, Ghana, July 10, 2009.  (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

The U.S. Presidential jet Air Force One carrying Obama, his wife Michelle and their two daughters Malia and Sasha touched down around 21:05 hours on Friday. It was the third time that the jet Air Force One made its call to the Kotoka International Airport which which also witnessed visits by former President Bill Clinton in 1998 and former President George W. Bush in 2008.

Moments later, a brimming President Obama accompanied by his wife and two daughters and a 50-member delegation came out of the aircraft to euphoric cheers.

There were moving scenes at the airport as Ghanaian President John Evans Atta Mills and his wife Naadu approached to receive the U.S. first family.

The U.S. first family, full of smiles, were introduced to the welcoming party which included politicians from all parties including Nana Akufo-Addo, the former president of the west African nation and also a candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the 2008 presidential elections.