Security for US President's Tour

President Bush arrives (fin) Read by E. agyeI
Story: Mary Mensah & Boahene Asamoah

THE Ghana Police Service, in collaboration with the American security agencies, has put in place stringent and comprehensive arrangements to ensure a peaceful and successful three-day visit by the US President, George Bush.
The arrangements will see the deployment of over 1,000 security men, comprising all specialised units within the Police Service and the Armed Forces, at vantage points, especially around the Kotoka International Airport and the hotel where the US President and his entourage would lodge.
Three American planes have already landed at the Kotoka International Airport, discharging men and equipment from the American service.
According to a police source, on Tuesday, February 19, the day of the American President’s arrival, no person or vehicle would be allowed around the airport area for an hour prior to his arrival.
The US presidential jet, the Air Force One, is expected to touch down, together with two other large planes, one carrying the presidential press corps and the other White House staff, at the Kotoka International Airport at exactly 7:30 p.m., with President George Bush and his wife on board.
The source said the road from the airport to the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel would also be closed to traffic and no vehicle would be allowed there till late in the night.
The following day, when President Bush is scheduled to meet President Kufuor, the road from Teshie to the Castle at Osu would be blocked.
Two US Naval ships have also landed in Ghana and are currently patrolling the coast.
According to the source, Ghana had been selected as the operational base for the three West African countries where President Bush would visit, namely, Liberia, Benin and Ghana, and added that all the operational structures had been put in place to co-ordinate affairs.
It said the selection of Ghana as a base for the three African countries showed the trust that the US government had in the security agencies in Ghana.
It noted that there would be some inconvenience on the road and appealed to residents of Accra and motorists to bear with the security agencies and respect the sirens when they heard them in order to make the visit a memorable one.
Announcing President Bush’s State Visit at a news conference in Accra earlier in the week, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Akwasi Osei-Adjei, had said it would offer the platform for bilateral trade discussions between Ghana and the United States, reports Boahene Asamoah.
Mr Osei-Adjei said the visit was a reciprocal gesture for a similar one extended to President Kufuor during the early part of his administration.
The minister said the visit would offer the two leaders the opportunity to discuss issues on free trade, economic opportunities and other initiatives such as the Africa Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) and the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA).
Mr Osei-Adjei stated that relations between the two countries were on a high pedestal and said issues of democratic governance, private sector development and economic co-operation would also form part of the discussions.
The minister stated that Ghana’s role in peacekeeping missions would also be discussed.
Ghana and the US have enjoyed considerable high-level bilateral co-operation over the years.
Ghana currently exports apparels and other products under the AGOA initiative signed into law by former President Clinton.
The country has also been a beneficiary of $547 million under the MCA aimed at supporting the agricultural sector and infrastructural development in the country.
Many Ghanaians have been successful in the US immigration lottery over the past years, making Ghana one of the highest application nations.
To further give a boost to Ghana-US relations, the US last year completed and commissioned a multi-million dollar office complex in Ghana.
As part of President Bush’s visit, a State Dinner will be held in his honour. He will also visit the US Embassy to meet with US volunteers in Ghana, go to the Ghana International School and hold high-level discussions at the seat of government, the Christianborg Castle, Osu.
President Bush has initiated several programmes in Africa, including the malaria initiative, the $40 billion HIV/AIDS programme for Africa, among many other initiatives.
The US President began his trip to Africa, which will take him to Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana and Liberia, on February 15.
The trip will be an opportunity for him to review at firsthand, since his last visit in 2003, the significant progress in efforts to increase economic development and fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and other treatable diseases as a result of the US’s robust programmes in these areas.
President Bush will also meet with President Yayi of Benin, President Kikwete of Tanzania, President Kagame of Rwanda and President Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia to discuss how the US can continue to partner African countries to support continued democratic reforms, respect for human rights, free trade, open investment regimes and economic opportunities across the continent.