General News of Thursday, 9 July 2009

Source: Times

Rawlings And Kufuor To Welcome Obama At Airport

Former Presidents Jerry John Rawlings and John Agyekum Kufuor and their spouses will be part of the welcoming party to receive American President Barack Obama when he arrives in the country tomorrow.

Koku Anyidoho, Communications Director at the Presidency, told the Times newspaper yesterday that President J.E.A Mills had invited former President J. J. Rawlings, former President Kufuor and former Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama to join other dignitaries to welcome President Obama.

Briefing the Times newspaper on preparations being made by the Castle, seat of government, to receive the US President, letters have been sent to Mr. Kufuor and Alhaji Mahama. “it is a matter of Ghana and not about partisan politics,” he said and expressed the hope that they would honour the invitation.

He said preparations by the Castle “are far advanced and on Saturday when he arrives at the Castle, we will be ready to receive him (Obama) Mr. Anyidoho said there would be bilateral discussions between Presidents Mills and Obama at the Credentials Hall which would be preceded by a breakfast meeting at the Castle lawns to which the two former President’s have been invited.

A joint press briefing would take place at the Kotoka International Airport, prior to the departure of President Obama where about 1,500 journalists would have the opportunity to speak to the two Presidents, he said. He said it was unfortunate that the out-door event planned earlier at the Independence Square could not materialize due to the unpredictability of the weather and added, however that Ghanaians should make the best out of the moment.