By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

July 11, 2009 – President Obama delivered a speech to a packed convention hall in the Ghanaian capital Accra on his first visit to sub-Saharan Africa as  U.S. president and toured a historic slave fortress in the city of Cape Coast.

President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Malia and Sasha on a tour of the Cape Coast Castle in Cape Coast, Ghana.

Obama said his visit to the place  slaves were kept captive reminded him of the capacity of human beings to commit great evil.

“One of the most striking things that I heard was that right above the dungeons in which male captives were kept was a church, and that reminds us that sometimes we can tolerate and stand by great evil even as we think that we’re doing good,” Obama said.

First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha accompanied the president. They walked through the dungeons maze of rooms where slaves were kept captive and saw the famous “door of no return” where tens of thousands of Africans passed through on their way to United States and the Caribbean.

“I think it was particularly important for Malia and Sasha, who are growing up in such a blessed way, to be reminded that history can take very cruel turns, and hopefully one of the things that was imparted to them during this trip is their sense of obligation to fight oppression and cruelty wherever it appears, and that any group of people who are degrading another group of people have to be fought against with whatever tools we have available to us,” the president said. 

The president’s theme of understanding history was also present in his address at the convention hall.  “Here in Ghana, you show us a face of Africa that is too often overlooked by a world that sees only tragedy or a need for charity. The people of Ghana have worked hard to put democracy on a firmer footing, with repeated peaceful transfers of power even in the wake of closely contested elections,” the president acknowledged.

  White House advisors said Ghana’s strong governance was one of reasons the president decided to include Ghana on his first visit to the continent.  He used the opportunity to praise the success of their last election acknowledging that “the minority deserves as much credit as the majority” which drew thunderous applause.

 More than 50 percent of Ghana’s population is young, and the president ended his remarks with a message directly to them:

“You know, 52 years ago, the eyes of the world were on Ghana.  And a young preacher named Martin Luther King traveled here, to Accra, to watch the Union Jack come down and the Ghanaian flag go up.  This was before the March on Washington or the success of the civil rights movement in my country.  Dr. King was asked how he felt while watching the birth of a nation.  And he said:  ‘It renews my conviction in the ultimate triumph of justice.’”

President Barack Obama walks with Ghana's President John Atta Mills.

During the departure ceremony at the Kotoka International Airport,  Ghana’s President Atta Mills told those gathered,  “We thank him for the message that he delivered to us.  He wants to have a close partnership with us.  He wants us to uphold democracy.  He wants us to go down the trail which has been blazed for us.  And he wants us to take our destiny into our own hands.  And there is hope, because hope is a very powerful weapon.  The Good Lord has blessed us with abundant gifts, and we know that this visit is going to open so many doors to us.”

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

Jan. 19, 2008 – On Election Day thousands of miles away in Kenya a group of international visitors vacationing at a coastal resort put their holiday plans on hold to watch and wait for election results.  The same may happen on Tuesday when President-elect Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th president. 

Violet Hobwe, a physician from Virginia and a native of Kenya told me, “Everyone was crazy with excitement and euphoric.”  Hobwe said the group of tourist from the continent and Europe stayed up all night to hear the news. Kenyans began a celebration on Election Day.  “The next day [Nov.5] was made a national holiday,” she said. 

Kenya’s interest in the election was heighten because President-Elect Barack Obama’s father was born in the East African Country. Hobwe who came to the U.S to attend medical school at Howard University said Kenyans feel an enormous amount of pride, “Everyone felt it’s one of our sons, isn’t this completely incredible.” 

But Obama’s international appeal hasn’t been limited to Africa.  Presidential historian Douglas Brinkley of Rice University told the Baltimore Sun, “He’s telling the whole world it doesn’t matter if you grew up poor or had dark skin. You can be a world leader.”  That idea resonates around the world, including “Kenya or Indonesia [and] Pakistan and Colombia and beyond.”

Francis Dickson, a native of Ghana agrees, “It’s [Obama’s win] really helped our election, they learned the power of the vote and people can get a fair and transparent government and leader.”  Dickson understands the expectations are high when it comes to future relationships with the continent.  The press is trying to temper expectations: “He’s not our president he’s our friend,” has been the overriding message.

Africa and U.S. have often had strained relationships but the Ambassador of the Republic of Mozambique, Armando Panguene said, he’s looking forward to maintaining his good relationship with the White House on issues like AIDS, education for girls and gaining “equal footing on trade.”

Panguene told me 40 African countries have joined together to host a special inaugural ball Tuesday night in the nations capitol. Obama’s a symbol of a global success. “In Mozambique they have reflected on their own freedom,” he said.

No doubt on Jan. 20 as Obama is sworn in the whole world will be watching.   BET’s International Network will air the swearing in ceremony in 27 countries in Africa.