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U.S. President Barack Obama took his first trip to Sub-Saharan Africa as president 10-11 July. Mr. Obama chose Ghana for his first visit to the region because of the country's strong democracy and peaceful transitions of power. Ghana’s President John Atta Mills took office in January after a close election that he won by just 40,000 votes.
President Obama addressed the Ghanaian parliament Saturday in a speech outlining U.S. policy towards Africa.
VOA produced a special program for TV, radio and the Web introducing and analyzing the president's speech. Our discussion guests from Washington D.C. and Accra included Ambassador Pamela Bridgewater, who has served as U.S. ambassador to Ghana and Benin, and as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. Also joining the program was Ghanaian native George Ntim, Founder and President of the Africa Development Foundation in New York City. VOA's "Straight Talk Africa" host Shaka Ssala joined the discussion from Accra.
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Obama Addresses Africans from Ghana 
US president tells Ghanaian lawmakers democracy, opportunity, health and resolution of conflict are keys to future of Africa, developing world
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FACTS ABOUT GHANA
| | Location: Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo | President: John Evans Atta Mills
| Population: 23,832,495
| Economy: Revolves around agriculture which accounts for 35% GDP
| Religion: Christian 68.8%, Muslim 15.9%, Traditional 8.5%
| | Literacy: 57.9% | Language: English (official)
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