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Hillary Clinton: Wheels Up Ghana

Posted in Hillary Clinton, Hillary Clinton Images, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State, Secretary of State Travel, state department, U.S. Department of State, tagged Africa, Benin, Ghana, Hillary Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State, State Department, U.S. Department of State on August 10, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton prepares to leave Accra, Ghana, en route to Benin, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton prepares to leave Accra, Ghana, en route to Benin, the last stop in Africa, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)

From a background briefing by a senior State Department official.

The last stop on the trip will be Benin. Benin has been a model democracy since 1991. Like Ghana, they have had a number of presidents, a number of free, fair, and transparent elections where both presidents have changed and where also parties, political parties, have also changed. They have also been a very strong development partner. They’ve had and just completed a $350 million MCC program. They are eagerly trying to pull together an application for another program.

We’re also going for political reasons. President Yayi is the current president of the African Union. It’s a rotating position. It’s not the chair position, that is a five-year job that Dr. Zuma is taking over; but every year there is a new president of the African Union, and the current president is President Yayi. He is an important intermediary when it comes to working with the African Union on the resolution of issues related to Somalia, Sudan, Mali, and Guinea-Bissau. The relationship there is very good, and they have been very good partners and interlocutors and very good utilizers of our development assistance.

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Photos: Hillary Clinton at the Funeral for John Atta Mills in Ghana

Posted in Foreign Policy, Hillary Clinton, Hillary Clinton Images, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State, Secretary of State Travel, state department, U.S. Department of State, tagged Africa, Foreign Policy, Ghana, Hillary Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, John Atta Mills, Secretary of State, State Department, U.S. Department of State on August 10, 2012| 8 Comments »

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From a background briefing by a senior State Department official.

Ghana has been a democracy, a multiparty democracy, since 1992. It has had some of the best elections in Africa. There have been changes not only of presidency but also of the political party in power. It probably has one of the best democracies on the continent, and it certainly has one of the most well-known and respected election commissioners on the continent.

Ghana has had a smooth transition since the death of John Atta Mills. The Vice President was sworn in very quickly without any political upheaval or turmoil. The country will have presidential elections in December. We think those elections will be like the last ones, hotly contested between the two leading parties. But we expect those elections will be free, fair, and transparent, and that they will also be peaceful and internationally monitored.

The Secretary will have an opportunity to meet with the new President, President Mahama, at his residence shortly after we arrive in Accra this evening. It’s out of respect and appreciation for the close relationship that President Mahama is doing this. We regard him as a friend of the United States. He is a Muslim in predominantly a Christian country, but the religious relationships between Muslims and Christians across Ghana is very, very good (inaudible).

The Secretary will probably have an opportunity at the funeral to meet with some of the other African heads of state and foreign ministers who are there. We expect at least some dozen or more heads of state from around Africa to attend, and a lot larger number of foreign ministers. It will be a very large occasion.

A quick word, back to Ghana and its economics. They’re one of our leading development partners. They have had a $500 million MCC compact which they’ve completed successfully, focusing on agriculture, water, energy, and infrastructure. And it’s been very well executed. They’re a partner in child survival and health programs which are also running very well. We have a large CDC contingent there working on issues related to HIV and AIDS, and Ghana is a country where the HIV/AIDS level has gone progressively down over the last five years. They’re also one of only two countries in Africa that are participating in a new Partnership for Growth Program.

So they are a key partner. Mills was a very important figure (inaudible). We expect to have an equally strong relationship with his successor, and we look forward to working with whoever is elected in the December elections. Their elections are approximately one month, almost to the day, after ours in the United States.

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SECRETARY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON: Public Schedule for August 10, 2012

Posted in Foreign Policy, Hillary Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State, Secretary of State Travel, state department, U.S. Department of State, tagged Africa, Benin, Foreign Policy, Ghana, Hillary Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State, State Department, U.S. Department of State on August 10, 2012| Leave a Comment »

AP Photo
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, left, introduces Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama, and his wife Lordina Mahama, to her staff during a meeting at their residence in Accra, Ghana, on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012. On Friday Clinton will attend the funeral of Ghana’s late President John Atta Mills, as part of a Presidential Delegation from the United States.

Public Schedule for August 10, 2012

Public Schedule

Washington, DC

August 10, 2012

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
PUBLIC SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2012

SECRETARY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON

Secretary Clinton is on foreign travel to Accra, Ghana and Cotonou, Benin. Secretary Clinton is accompanied by Counselor Mills, Assistant Secretary Carson, Spokesperson Nuland, Director Sullivan, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs Grant Harris, and VADM Harry B. Harris, Jr., JCS. Please click here for more information.

9:45 a.m. LOCAL Secretary Clinton attends the funeral service for the late President of Ghana John Atta Mills, in Accra, Ghana.
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)

12:30 p.m. LOCAL Secretary Clinton meets with the staff and families of Embassy Accra, in Accra, Ghana.
(POOLED PRESS COVERAGE)

3:30 p.m. LOCAL Secretary Clinton meets with President of Benin Boni Yayi, in Cotonou, Benin.
(CAMERA SPRAY)

4:35 p.m. LOCAL Secretary Clinton meets with the staff and families of Embassy Cotonou, in Cotonou, Benin.
(POOLED PRESS COVERAGE)

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Hillary Clinton in Ghana: Where a Country Prepares to Say Good-Bye

Posted in Foreign Policy, Hillary Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State, state department, U.S. Department of State, Uncategorized, tagged Africa, Foreign Policy, Ghana, Hillary Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, John Atta Mills, John Mahama, Secretary of State, State Department, U.S. Department of State on August 9, 2012| Leave a Comment »

It is past midnight in Accra (EDT +4) where Hillary Clinton arrived this evening and met with President Mahama. On Twitter, I found a tweet from a Ghanaian source stating that she had landed. I followed the link to the source’s website and found these touching posts covering three days of official mourning. Mme. Secretary is in Ghana to attend the funeral of President John Atta Mills who passed on July 24. Clearly he was well-loved. He was running for reelection and by all indications was expected to win.

These posts and pictures are reminiscent of what our country went through when JFK was assassinated. I remember the long, endless lines of people patiently waiting to enter the Capitol Rotunda to say good-bye. I remember the words that were strange to me: portico, catafelque. I remember crying a lot. My heart goes out to the people of Ghana at this difficult time.

Here is the link to Ghana Decides which is covering the events beautifully. They will be posting coverage all day tomorrow, and if you scroll down through the posts you will find a schedule of events.

The Winding Queues

On the second day of the three-day funeral, what was prominent everywhere around the vicinity of the funeral grounds was queues – very long queues.

What was revealing about all the queues? Ghanaians were patient enough to stay within it and even form another from the Accra Sports Stadium. Those too tired, in typical Ghanaian fashion, sort refuge with the tiny shade around.

Our team went into town to take photographs of the winding queues that stretched from the Military Cemetery to the State House, and a supplementary queue from the Accra Lawn Tennis Club to the State House.

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SECRETARY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON: Public Schedule for August 9, 2012

Posted in Foreign Policy, Hillary Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State, Secretary of State Travel, state department, U.S. Department of State, Uncategorized, tagged Africa, Foreign Policy, Ghana, Hillary Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Nigeria, Secretary of State, State Department, U.S. Department of State on August 9, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Public Schedule for August 9, 2012

Public Schedule

Washington, DC

August 9, 2012

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
PUBLIC SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2012

SECRETARY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON

Secretary Clinton is on foreign travel to Abuja, Nigeria and Accra, Ghana. Secretary Clinton is accompanied by Counselor Mills, Assistant Secretary Carson, Spokesperson Nuland, Director Sullivan, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs Grant Harris, and VADM Harry B. Harris, Jr., JCS. Please click here for more information.

4:00 p.m. LOCAL Secretary Clinton meets with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Security Council, in Abuja, Nigeria.
(CAMERA SPRAY)

5:00p.m. LOCAL Secretary Clinton meets with Nigerian Anti-corruption Leaders, in Abuja, Nigeria.
(CAMERA SPRAY)

6:00p.m. LOCAL Secretary Clinton meets with the staff and families of Embassy Abuja, in Abuja, Nigeria.
(POOLED PRESS COVERAGE)

8:20p.m. LOCAL Secretary Clinton meets with Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, in Accra, Ghana.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

Getty Images
Ghana’s new President John Dramani Mahama and his wife Lordina arrive to view the body of late President John Atta Mills at the parliament in Accra on August 8, 2012. Ghana began three days of funeral rites for Mills on August 8, with his body to lie in state ahead of his August 10 burial to be attended by foreign dignitaries, including Hillary Clinton. The death of Mills on July 24, five months ahead of polls in which he was to seek re-election, threw the West African nation into mourning and upended the presidential campaign in a country that recently joined the ranks of the world’s significant oil producers. Mahama, who had been vice president, was sworn in to serve out the remainder of Mills’ term hours after his death, as dictated by the west African nation’s constitution.

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Confirmed: Hillary Clinton’s Africa Itinerary Extended

Posted in Foreign Policy, Hillary Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State, Secretary of State Travel, state department, U.S. Department of State, tagged Africa, Benin, Foreign Policy, Ghana, Hillary Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Malawi, Nigeria, Secretary of State, South Africa, State Department, U.S. Department of State on August 5, 2012| 5 Comments »

U.S Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (R) reacts during here visit to Malawi August 5, 2012. Clinton paid a lightning visit to Malawi on Sunday to congratulate its new president, Joyce Banda, one of only two female heads of state in Africa, for pulling her impoverished country back from the economic brink after a political crisis. REUTERS/Eldson Chagara (MALAWI – Tags: SOCIETY POLITICS)

The rumor mill has been whizzing out of control all weekend with stories of additional countries to be added to the already packed schedule for this trip. Originally arranged as an 11-day trip, the addition of Turkey next Saturday for talks on Syria extends that by at least one day. Within the African leg of the trip, Voice of America reports the inclusion of Ghana, Nigeria, and Benin. The first was expected since the purpose is to attend the funeral of Ghana’s late President John Atta Mills who passed away unexpectedly on July 24. Sources for that early story appeared credible. The Nigerian leg was announced by local sources last night. Benin comes as a complete surprise since neither very early reports nor the buzzing rumor mill had ever mentioned a stop there. VOA reports:

Clinton is due to fly to South Africa Sunday, and later on to Nigeria, Ghana and Benin.

In Ghana, she is expected to attend the state funeral of the country’s late president John Atta Mills.

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Bits and Pieces: Hillary Clinton’s Day in Nairobi and Other Items

Posted in Foreign Policy, Hillary Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State, Secretary of State Travel, state department, U.S. Department of State, tagged Ghana, Hillary Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Kenneth Marende, Kenya, Malawi, Mwai Kibaki, Nairobi., Raila Odinga, Secretary of State, South Africa, State Department on August 4, 2012| 3 Comments »

Earlier posts provided some details about Mme. Secretary’s meetings in Nairobi with representatives of civil society, the Somali Roadmap Signatories, the Supreme Court Chief Justice Mutunga, and the embassy staff. There were no press releases about her other meetings, but here are some pictures of her day beginning with her departure this morning from Entebbe. We see her landing in Nairobi, meeting with President Kibaki, Prime Minister Odinga (he tweeted one of those pics himself), and proceeding to a meeting with National Assembly Speaker Marende on an artfully photographed stairway.

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There is apparently some confusion as to her exact whereabouts at the moment. An unverified source has her on the ground in South Africa (city unspecified), but according to her itinerary the next stop is supposed to be Malawi. If she indeed stopped off in Lilongwe before proceeding to South Africa, we have no confirmation of it nor photos to confirm it.. As long ago as last Sunday, sources in Malawi had her spending tomorrow there where it is now just past 2 a.m.

Other unverified sources have her meeting up with Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in Ghana for the funeral of Ghanaian President John Atta Mills who died suddenly and unexpectedly on July 24. None of the above is verified by the State Department. Ghana was originally rumored to have been on the itinerary for this trip which is scheduled to end August 10, the day of the Mills funeral. The schedule released by DOS on July 30 does not include a Ghana stop, and a public revision has not been released.

Clinton, Ellen Meet in Ghana, To attend late Ghanaian President’s Funeral

Written by Observer Staff Thursday, 02 August 2012 12:37

The United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Liberia President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will be among several world leaders expected to attend the funeral of late Ghanaian President J. Atta Mills on August 10, 2012.

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EDITED TO ADD THIS: This article, which provides insight into the security precautions taken for HRC’s sojourn in Kenya, counters the SABC report that she has arrived in South Africa. It is morning in Kenya now. She will be leaving soon.

Security tightened as Clinton arrives in Nairobi

Posted by JUDIE KABERIA and SIMON NDONGA on August 4, 2012

Clinton held talks with President Mwai Kibaki at State House, Nairobi.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 4 – Security was tightened in Nairobi following the visit by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who arrived in the Kenyan capital on Saturday morning.

The US Secretary of State flew in from Uganda, where she met President Yoweri Museveni. She arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at 8.20am with a fleet of up to 20 staff.

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There She Goes Again! Hillary Clinton Reportedly Headed to Africa

Posted in Foreign Policy, Hillary Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State, Secretary of State Travel, state department, U.S. Department of State, tagged Africa, Foreign Policy, Ghana, Hillary Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Malawi, Nigeria, Secretary of State, Senegal, South Africa, State Department, U.S. Department of State, Uganda on July 30, 2012| 17 Comments »

As you know, I prefer to post travel plans when these trips are announced officially, but there are many reports from disparate foreign sources, all unconfirmed as yet by the State Department, that Mme. Secretary will be heading to Africa imminently on a trip that is expected to last about a week. Countries mentioned so far include Uganda, Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa – in no particular order that we can be sure of until DOS confirms the trip.

Some of us joked that she may have been taking notes, as some of us were, during the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics, naming countries she has yet to visit as SOS. Clearly, on the past few trips, she has made what appear to be farewell visits as Secretary of State (India, Israel for example), but also added in a country or two she had not been to, e.g. Laos. In my database of her State Department travels I find no record of visits to Senegal, Malawi, Ghana, or Uganda. While the countries differ, this trip will be reminiscent of her first State visit to Africa in August 2009. Nostalgic.

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Hillary Clinton: The Passing of Ghanaian President John Evans Atta Mills

Posted in Foreign Policy, Hillary Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State, state department, U.S. Department of State, tagged Foreign Policy, Ghana, Hillary Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, John Evans Atta Mills, Secretary of State, State Department, U.S. Department of State on July 24, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Statement on the Passing of Ghanaian President John Evans Atta Mills

Press Statement

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Washington, DC

July 24, 2012

On behalf of the people of the United States, I want to send my deepest sympathies to the people of Ghana and the friends, family, and loved ones of President John Evans Atta Mills. President Mills made a significant contribution to Ghana’s democracy and development, and forged a strong and positive partnership with the United States. As the third president of modern Ghana, he worked to strengthen his country’s democratic institutions and to expand prosperity for all of its people. He promoted regional peace and reinforced Ghana’s reputation as a leader in Africa. President Mills was a champion for his nation and his loss will be felt around the world. My thoughts and prayers are with all the people of Ghana during this difficult time.

Here is the press release.

Ghana president dies unexpectedly

By Reuters

AFP / Getty Images, file Ghanaian President John Atta Mills is shown last August.

ACCRA — Ghana’s President John Atta Mills has died unexpectedly, a presidential statement said, and an aide said his death occurred on Tuesday after he took ill on Monday night.

The death of the president of the world’s No. 2 cocoa grower comes months before Mills was due to stand for re-election at the helm of the West African country that posted double-digit growth in 2011 and has been praised for its strong democracy in a turbulent region.

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