you know, ghana, ghana was the very first nation to host young people from the peace corps. and for decades our two neighs have formed vital partnerships and lasting friendships because of this program. so, all of you in the peace corps, you are doing an outstanding job. and we are proud of you. as somebody whose father comes from africa, obviously, this visit has been particularly meaningful for me. i have had a chance to discuss the future of ghana, but also the future of africa with president mills. i have spoken to the parliament here in ghana about america's commitment to supporting democracy and development. michelle and i visited la general hospital where we met with beautiful women and their children who are getting the care they need for a healthy start. and finally, we toured cape coast castle, a place for centuries where men, women and children of this nation and surrounding areas were sold into slavery. i'll never forget the image of my two young daughters, the descendants of africans and african-americans, walking through those doors of no return but then walkin

i'm not in ghana. i suspect that conversation had to do as much with what the region needed from the united states, as much as it had to do with what ghana needed from the nooifts united states. >> charles, but in comparison to past presidents who have gone to africa and spoken in africa, how does president obama's vision differ from previous administrations? >> well, as i said, one, he knows -- he may be the first president of the united states who actually has a substantial knowledge about the african contine continent. i think the last administration -- of course, the bush administration placed a greater emphasis on security issues. the obama administration seems, although we're early into the obama administration, seems to be emphasizing governance, which is a big difference policy wise between the two administrations. and, of course, obama has a cache in africa, unlike any other president that visited that continental, jimmy carter, bill clinton, and george bush. >> have we seen this president, pr

probably a hot day in ghana today. coming down where everybody is excited, even though he has kenyan blood running through his veins, all of africa -- there's a look at the little girls. someone's doing the hair of one -- there's the first mother-in-law. is that what we call her? along for the trip as well. >> it's going to be quite an emotional and perhaps even chilling tour, the cape coast capitol there. there are dungeons where hundreds if not thousands were stowed away in there as they were waiting to be boarded on to ships for places around the world, including the united states, and a lot of people talk about these dungeons as being very dark, very little air was allowed in and many stayed there for days if not weeks, perhaps even months at a time. we're seeing very little food as well. it's going to be an emotional and educational tour as well for the young children of the obamas, as they take this tour with their parents and learn the history of what occurred there in's cape quote, gacoast, and a, in ghana, you

that is ghana in a nutshell. now, let me give you some facts about the country that can help you understand why it's so significant for today. first of all, when you look at the population, 24 million. check out the next one which shows you religious breakdown. very interesting here, more than two-thirds of the country is christian. it's also 16% muslim. that is a substantial muslim population. and that is part of the president's reach-out around the world. keep that in mind. in his trip to africa as well, reaching out to muslims who make up a large portion of africa in general. all right, check out this next one. the poverty line, 29% of the population in ghana is below the poverty line. now, by our standards in the u.s. or in the industrialized world that is massive. by african standards, it is not. i looked at where it ranks on something called the human poverty index, it's not that low. gha ghana's economy relatively speaking is good as african nations go. and i'll show you one more thing here, because i want

why ghana? why does president obama go there rather than perhaps where his father was born, kenya? >> where they hoped he was coming. the favorite son. don't want to be too hard on him. josh levs is with us. >> good morning. also relatively speaking it's true. democracy in ghana is part of the major reason president obama is there. listen to the big picture. google earth animation, zoom in on ghana. see where it is. looking at that northwest section of ghana, subsahara, sub-saharan, africa. two places you're hearing the news a lot today. one is the cape coast. president obama visiting a major area of the slave trade. showing pictures today and the capital. accra. the population center. a big picture on ghana. can see where it is. facts about ghana and why it's so significant. straight to those. first, the population is 24 million. smaller than some people think, but look at this next one. the religious breakdown is very important here. the vast majority of the population there, christian. 69% ch

but she says she's found her home in ghana. >> i love africa. i love the beauty of it. >> reporter: for most of her life, kalimah had wondered where her family had come from. where in africa. but she figured, like most, she figured her ancestry, like that of most black americans, could never be known. that it would forever be a closed door. >> we need and we should have a right to know where we come from, as african-americans who are descendants of slaves in the united states of america. we should know. >> reporter: now, dna is unlocking that door. proponents say genetic tests can trace the genetic ancestry of african-americans all the way to africa. kalimah johnson took a test last fall. >> i opened it. it said you are a 100% match with the acan people in ghana. i jumped up and down for joy. and started crying. >> reporter: many people feel compelled to visit ghana after they get the test results. kalimah flew to ghana last week. >> i wanted to see the land. i wanted to feel the air. i wanted to smell the grass. i wanted to experience this land

after his stop this ghana. he'll take a symbolic trip next thursday to new york where he'll be speaking at the nccaacp convict sensation there. there's a new leader at the helm, ben jealous, the youngest naacp president ever. he has a fresh and different perspective and different priorities. i sat down and asked him about it. take a listen. >> a lot of folks want to say the 20th century is the century of the naacp, but the reality is that our generation knows in our hearts as much as we have benefitted from the dreams of our ancestors and all their hard work for the most murdered generation in this country, the most incarcerated generation on the planet. when with you ask yourself, who's going to fight those battles, it's hard to imagine them being won unless the naacp is in full force. that's what i intend to do. >> why do you think they wanted you? you're a young man from a different era running the oldest civil rights organization in this country. >> the person before me was 38 years old and he played an int

the people of ghana, welcome a distinguished son of africa. >> reporter: obama chose ghana because it is a stable democracy, with a growing economy. a rare combination in africa. and he says, a model for others. >> ghana has now undergone a couple of successful elections, in which power was transferred peacefully. even in a very close election. >> reporter: it's not asf an american president hasn't been here before or even recently. president bush was here just last year. and whcan forget the crushing crowd that greeted president clinton during his 1998 visit? but obama's brief visit, not even 24 hours on the ground, is special. >> it's a very genuine outpouring of affection towards the president. we can't do away with the idea that we feel he's one of us. >> reporter: about the only sour note, there are no events open to the general public. very few have the opportunity to see obama in person. a huge disappointment for many in this tiny african country. the white house is not saying why there are no public events. but security has got to be a concern in that clnts visit back in 1998,

and no other country than ghana. so i'm happy, i'm happy that one of our own is visiting us. >> reporter: ghana's former president explains why president obama is choosing to visit ghana over many other african countries. >> he's coming to ghana as a beacon of good governance of democratic practice and that he wants to come here as to encourage other countries in africa to go in the direction of ghana. >> reporter: in 2008 millions of ghanians voted in a bid in a bitterly president election followed by a runoff. not the sort of postelection violence as accustomed to seeing in africa. the ruling party gracefully conceded defeat to the opposition. west africa's abdance of natural resources and the recent discovery of oil here in ghana is also thought to be a factor behind president obama's trip. and another worry for washington, the growing influence of islamic extremist groups including al qaeda in the horn of africa. when president obama takes to conference center on saturday many will be expecting to hear about a ne

ghana. this was the scene when first visited a castle on a coast from which slaves were once shipped to the new world. the outpouring was described as -- >> joining us for more built president's trip and the state of u.s./african relations is yaw nyarko. professor of economics and director of africa house at new york university. welcome. >> thank you. >> you were in ghana when the president was there. >> that's right. >> what was the mood? what was the anticipation like? >> well, everybody was excited that he was coming. there were these billboards with ghana's president next to obama all over the city and people were very, very excited. very, very proud of obama. everybody has this empathy with the united states now because of obama. it was very exciting. very exciting. >> why ghana? why do you think that that country was selected? >> well, for a variety of reasons. the first of course that ghana just finished a razor-thin very close elections. i mean the winner won by you know a percentage

ghana's economy has shown impressive growth. thisrogress may lack the ama of 20th century stggles but make no mistake. it will ultimately be more significant, for just a it is imrtant to emerge from the control of o nations, is even more important to build so i believe that this moment is just a promising for ghana and r africa as when my father came of e and new nations were being born. this is new moment of great promise. only this tim we've learned at it will not be giants who will dermine africa's future. it will be you. the men and women in ghana's parlment. the people you present. it wille young people brimmg with talt and energy and hope who ca framehe future that so many i previous nerations never realized. now, to realize that pmise we must first recogniz thetruth that he u given life t in ghana. development dpends on governance that is the ingredient ich has be missing in far too ny places for r too long. that'se chang that can unlo afric potentially. and that is a responsibility that can only met by afcans. in the st,

suzanne malveaux joins us from accra, ghana. a big trip and they're hoping for big rewards in the end. tell us about it. >> they certainly are, tom. we saw president obama, michelle, sasha, malia. heading become to washington. they will land early sunday morning. they will be back in the white house. this is a seven-day trip that started off with russia, then italy, and then ghana. obviously the message that he wanted to leave with the ghanan people but also with africans in general is holding up ghana as a model of democracy, but also calling into account the need for other african leaders and other african nations to be responsible to be accountable to their people. he specifically reached out to the youth, to the young people to say, that their future was in their own hands and in africans' hand. what he did that was different from previous presidents, we have seen president clinton and president bush, both of the trips here to accra, ghana. what president obama did heed his own personal link, personal connection to africa, h

andrew reports now. >> late-night arrival in ghana. a visit for the first african- american president. they have been gearing up for the visit. this is something of a reward. it is often held up as a homecoming of sorts. obama's life story means so much to so many. >> we adore him. he is everything we have dreamed of in a president. >> president obama as made it clear that he will use this opportunity to urge africans to take responsibility and unlocked the continent's true potential. he is also promising more support for agriculture. training from america has already helped them quadrupled their output. the west will open up subsidized markets. >> we wanted to open up africa to european markets. >> among those ploys to welcome obama are going to ghana's traditional chiefs. >> he is my brother. i'm happy he came here and hope that he will help improve our lives. >> of course, there's no quick fix, and obama's message will inevitably get model and watered down. but with his popularity, his first black president does have a unique opport

ghana is special in africa. >> there are also reports of significant new oil discoveries in ghana and i wonder if that had anything to do with the president's visit. >> no, i don't think so. i think the oil is good for ghana. it's vitally needed resources. i don't think it's going to be earth-shattering, the discoveries are good. they're great. but it's not in massive amounts, okay? so, no, i don't think that factored into it. >> in his message, the president sort of had a tough love kind of message that he gave to africa. how do you think that was received? >> well, i think, among many, it was received very, very well. as africans, we all know that we have to get our own house in order. many people understand that africa can only be built by africans. if there's going to be development, africans have to do that. and people understand that. i don't think people were waiting for obama to come with, you know, tons of money or something like that. no. they appreciated his message. >> yaw nyarko, thank you very much for sharing your story with us. >> thank you. >>> finally tonight, we tak

why have the president obama chose ghana? >> there's many reasons why he chose ghana, number one to showcase the good governance there and that's number one and ghana is one of the countries which gained independence and it's all so symbolic and so that's the primary reason why it's going there. >> how has the president been received? he arrived on friday? >> the welcome has been tremendous and the crowds are jubilant and s claiming him to be one of their own, of course. obviously, the king is not very happy that he didn't go there but at least he made a stop in ghana. almost all africans are happy and jubilant that he's meat his first historic trip to africa. >> you can join the conversation, the republican line -- you can also email in your comments at journal@c-span.org or on twitter at c-span, and you mention that people in kenya were disappointed that the president did not go there, why did he make the choice to not go to his father country? >> well, you may remember that there was -- there were elections in december 200

bush both visited ghana. the reception president obama is getting is frankly in another league altogether. anderson back with a "360" dispatch. tomorrow the president will be at cape coast castle. what more can you tell us about that site? i know you were there today. >> yeah. we spent a lot of time there today. we will be there tomorrow interviewing the president. it is a haunting visit. there are a number of castles, fortresses that were used for hundreds of years as a holding place for slaves before they were sent to the new world, to america, elsewhere in the new world and europe. you go into these holding cells. we followed one african-american lady who whenever she visits it is a moving experience. we followed her and we are going to tell her story next week on cnn. this is where president obama and his wife and kids are going to be going tomorrow. i will talk to them about the experience. donna brazil came to the cape coast a while ago and had a remarkable experience here that she told us about. here i

ron claiborne, abc news, ghana. >> the picture from ghana tonight. meantime, the president taping his weekly address overseas taking on the economic stimulus back home. the president said the plan was not to design to work in four months. he rejected talk that a second stim you us plan is now needed. >> meanwhile, tension growing in washington this evening about whether the cia during the bush administration withheld information about sensitive counterterrorism operations. new york sometimes reporting is that information was kept secret by vice president dick cheney. here's john hendren. >> reporter: the new york times is reporting that the cia didn't inform congressional overseers about a secret counter terrorism program for eight years because cheney ordered them not to. angry democratic leaders had been calling for congressional investigation. kept in the dark, misled and outright lead to. the times said it was cia director leon panetta. who told cia dick cheney ordered withhold information. >> what we're seeing here is that the really the politic

he will address the ghana parliament, i'm told. sorry. that camera shot got a little bit jerky there. it is beyond our control as we await the president to step off of air force i. exactly how much can he accomplish, and how many people can he meet and greet while he's in the country for such a short amount of time? >> it is the symbolism of the trip that matters, rick. as you point out, it is less than 24 hours that president obama will be on the ground in ghana. aside from his speeches, his speech and his meetings with officials, he intends to visit the castle, which was the last point that many africans saw before they were loaded on to slavers an sent to this country, and so there will be tremendous symbolism there, but it is the symbolism of the first african-american president visiting ghana and the symbolism of the president making the point that good governance matters to the continent in more than just a furtherance of democracy, in very practical ways that is significant about this trip, rick. >> i wouldn't ordinarily get person

barack obama is very close to landing in ghana. he brings with him a pledge of $20 billion from the world's richest nations to boost food sufficiency in africa. >> bbc world news was presented by a kcet los angeles. funding for this presentation was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu, the newman's own foundation, and the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation. macarthur foundation.

come here to encourage other countrin africa to go in theirection of ghana. reporter: in 2008 millio of ghanians bid in a bitterly president election flowed by a roff. not theortf postelection violence as acstomed to seeing in africa. the ruling party graceful conceded defeat to the opposition. west africa's abundance of natul resources and the recent dicovery of oil here in ghana is also thought to be a factor bend president obama's trip. and another worry fo washington, t grong influence of limmistic extremist oups includingl qaeda in the hn of africa. when president obama takes to thepodium at thi internation conference on satury many wi be expecting toear about a new rection in u.s. forei policy towards africa, especially issues such as aid, whichany still have set backhe ntinent. an therade policies which disadvantage afrin businesses and producer the sort of issues many ordinary africans are cncerned about, alon with at presidt obama can do to endan endemmic corruion. an issue he recent addreed with an interview with the website, allafrica.com >> for ma

parliament >> thank you, in ghana, it was quite a picture today. people clustered around television sets to hear president obama speak. just how was his sometimes stern message received. ron claiborne. >> reporter: not even technical difficulties could prevent obama's message to africa coming through loudly and clearly. >> africa's future is up to africans. >> reporter: but rather than rankle, obama's tough love message seemed to resonate. >> he talked about development beginning from within and asked us not to blame others and i think that was a powerful message. >> reporter: obama was critical of africa's failures, poverty, corruption, ethnic conflict. but he also told africans they have the power to chart a better future for themselves. it was a dose of "yes, you can" optimism that many people on this continent are unaccustomed to. >> you can do it attitude. >> reporter: obama has taken to ghana by storm. on the streets, there were the usual souvenir peddlers. the ubiquitous government billboards. but there was also genuine excitement and emotio

here, tooin ghana, we are eing you help point the way forward. you should take pride in your coributions to acekeeping, from liberia to lebanon, and your efforts to resist the scourge of the human tde. we welcome the steps tat are being taken organizatns like the african union to better resolve conflicts, to keep the peac and sport those in need. we encourage the vision of a strong, regional security architecture that can bring effectivtrans national forces to bear when needed. america has a rponsibility to work with you as rtner, to advance thisvision. just with words but with support that strengthens afrins. when tre's a genocide i darfur terroristsn somalia these are not simplyfrican problems. they are global securit challenges andhey demand a global respon. an that's why we st readyto partner through diplocy and technical assistance and logistical support and we will and behin effort toold criminals accountable. let me be ear. our africa command is focused not on establishing a foothold but on confronting these common chlenges to advance the

' trip to ghana, was their visit to cape coast castle. the british once used the castle's dungeon to hold people for slavery. president obama spoke to anderson cooper about his trip. >> do you think what happened here, has resonance in america? that the slave experience is something that should be talked about, and should be remembered and should be present in everyday life? >> well, i think the experience of slavery is like the experience of the holocaust. i think it's one of those things you don't forget about. i think it's important that the way we think about it, and the way it's taught, is not one in which there's simply a victim and a victimizer. and that's the end of the story. i think the way it has to be thought about, the reason it's relevant, is because whether it's -- what's happening in darfur, or what's happening in the congo, or what's happening in too many places around the world, you know, the capacity for cruelty still exists. >> to see anderson cooper's entire exclusive interview with president obama, tune in to "ac 360

why ghana and not kenya? >> reporter: well, you know, many kenyans are feeling rather snubbed by president obama because they expected that kenya would be the first country that he would visit on the continent. but, you know, mr. obama has made it very clear that he's trying to uplift good governance on the continent, and that is expected to be a huge focus of his address on saturday. he says that the current president of ghana has shown that he wants to address corruption, corruption which mr. obama himself has blamed for robbing africans of progress and success. and he's also praised ghana for its good governance and a similar transfer of power from a ruling party to opposition parties, such as has happened a couple times in ghana and they have free and fair elections and he sees them as a good example of what africa can achieve. and he has made a link between prosperity and good governance and added that there will be no good government without good governance. we expect that to be the theme of his trip wh

there's oil which is discovered in ghana. it was just discovered two years ago and i understand this particular oil field will yield 3 billion-barrels of oil. so that's important. but also ghana has cocoa, gold and diamonds and other agricultural goods like coconuts. >> so it is something america and america's businesses should be looking to invest in. >> it is not just about aid. aid is important but as you know aid has not always got on the the right people but ghana has managed well with this aid from the united states and it is on track to meet the millennium 2015 goal. >> less than a minute. what else should those of us watching the president on this historic visit to ghana know about what we need from them and what they need from us? >> i think there needs to be an extreme makeover of the mind about africa. instead of looking at the stereo typical images we see of africa, let's open our minds and think how can we help africans help themselves. >> thank you for helping us to begin the makeover. we'll be isright back. whe

. >>> still ahead, president obama wrapping up a busy one- day visit to ghana. we'll hehave ttades ilwhen 9news returns. >>> anne arundel police are investigating the death of an elderly woman whose body was found in a freezer. police were called to a glen burnie, maryland home last night for a report of a death. when they arrived, they found the body of 83-year-old doris cooke in a freezer. they say the family put her there. her family says she died a few weeks ago and they put her body there. now police are trying to figure out if there is any wrongdoing in her death. >>> president obama went to ghana. he says the cruelty and oppression there can be overcome. he and his family toured an area there and challenged the people of africa to seize opportunity for peace, democracy and susan roberts has our report. >> reporter: the first african- american first family toured a castle in ghana, a police that once imprisoned african slaves. >> on the other hand, it's here where the journey of once this began. >> reporter: outside the castle, crowds cheered him. american

tomorrow, he'll address ghana's parliament. more than 1 million people are expected to line the streets, hoping to get a glimpse of the first african-american president. >> many kenyans are feeling rather snubbed by president obama because they expected that kenya would be the first country that he would visit on the continent, but, you know, mr. obama has made it very clear that he's trying to uplift good governance on the continent. and that is expected to be a huge focus of his address on saturday. >> cnn's anderson cooper is in ghana with the president. tonight we're going to touch base with him live in just a minute. earlier, the president spent the morning in italy, wrapping up the g-8 summit and stopping off in rome. now, when in rome, mr. obama did as romans do, or rather as presidents do. he had an audience with pope benedict xvi. here's some video of the pleasantries. they were, of course, all smiles. but behind the scenes, they sat for 30 minutes -- and i'm quoting now -- disagreeing without being disagreeable on sub

welcome t ghana. reporter: they believ possible visit will inspire the entire nation. >> what does this torch represent? >> it's the coming of obama to signify at we're going to change the way we think. >> ghanaians are weekendinim like a so it makes no dffence that president oba's family is from a differentcoy. >> barack obamas keny. >> you can see the front pagef every ca paper h obama on it. e streets are full of billboards and signs and the radi are even playing obam music. >> it's a song welcoming obama. >> reporter: the obas will be welcomed outside the capal as well when they tour a former slave case in cape coast. hundreds of thousands of afrins wererought here in transit, never to see their homes or families again. the visit wl be symbolically poweul in part because mrs. obama is a descendant of slaves >> it's like a full circle experien. were the powerlessho left here an the powerful are coming. >>eporter: now that tour of the slave stle i expected to be the emotial high tour of the visit. d

ghana needs the money. the environment must be kept intact. >> here is one possible solution -- in what used to be forests, new trees are being planted. 1 million so far. they should make money by absorbing carbon dioxide. >> those seedlings will be growing very rapidly and contain vast amounts of carbon dioxide locked up into the wood of the tree. there is a huge market of individuals and companies who will pay for this project to be implemented by buying carbon credits. >> so how was this: to work? take my journey here. it has made me responsible for about one and half tons of carbon dioxide in it from the airplane. i can offset that by paying this project which is planting these trees. take this one. it will grow over the next 8-10 years and absorb my one and half tons of carbon dioxide. it's a very small start, but it could be very big business. i the aim, if you can picture it, is for the biggest polluters thousands of miles away in the developed world to help pay for the forest tree is a controversy a

why ghana on this trip? i think this is an opportunity to highlight a country that has a significant and fairly steady progress along the democratic track. it's a country that in the 1980's and early 1990's, suffered a whole slew of coups and instability, which is kind of your typical west african state and has kind of really pulled out of that now had five successive election that have been deemed free and fair. the most recent one was very closely contested, very tense in instances, came to a runoff between the two elite contenders. and the opposition party eventually won which is a major turning point, i think. it came in at the same time as obama did to office. and so it's a chance, again to kind of highlight a success rather than the per petal -- understandable but unfortunate focus on crises. i think the president, too, will highlight america's long-standing history with ghana. ghana obviously was a key hub in the slave trade, make a visit to the coast castle, which i think will be a very moving experi

why ghana? >> i think, lester, what the president wanted to do, try to send a message of identification with africa, but with the kind of africa that he wants to model for the rest of the world and the rest of the continent. a country that as savannah guthrie just said had a peaceful transfer of power in a democratic electoral process and one that's done a good job, relatively speaking, cracking down on corruption, holding back so many other countries on the continent. >> this trip is steeped in symbolism, the first african-american president making a trip to ghana. does this represent a move and active engagement in areas the u.s. has not previously been? >> well, the president announced before he left italy, $20 billion in aid to try to develop food resources for africa, but, look, if you are the first african-american president and your message is one of hope and change, what is a more powerful way to send that than to go to the most neglected part of the world, show residents of africa that

a major speech coming up in ghana said four 8:40 am. we will bring you that live as it happens. >> ainsley: the airline busted his guitar apparently and refuse to pay for the repair. so guess what he is doing? is fighting back with this hilarious song about how the airline broke his guitar. you'll hear the song and for the singer himself coming up. "what do you mean homeowners insurance doesn't cover floods?" "a few inches of water caused all this?" "but i don't even live near the water." what you don't know about flood insurance may shock you. including the fact that a preferred risk policy starts as low as $119 a year. for an agent, call the number on your screen. [ female announcer ] let go of ordinary. and see what extraordinary feels like. be who you are. and who you could be. ♪ your days don't define you. ♪ your dreams do. unlock the secrets that lie within you in the u.s. virgin islands. you unscripted. the president is about to go for a major speech in god. we bring a july. >> dave: good news from main street a bailout for s

>>> president barack obama is on an official visit to the west african nation of ghana. why he is there and the message he's giving to the people of b sub-saharan africa. >> we understand the demand for information, we can't jeopardize a crime scene, becoming clear there are potential crime scenes littered throughout the cemetery. >> access blocked to a historic cemetery at the center of a major plot re-selling scam and the crime scene is expanding as police find more human bones on the ground there. >>> also emotions high as a huge crowd gathers today for a final good-bye to steve mcnair, how friends, family, and fans will honor the former nfl star. you're watching hln this saturday morning. thanks so much for spending part of your weekend with us. i'm susan hendricks. we want to get you updated now. the president is on an official visit to the african nation of gaun nachlt his arrival last night touched off celebrations in the streets of the country's capital accra. today, he has a full slate of events ahead including addressing the country's parliament. before his arr

but the defining moment of the trip will be remembered both in ghana and this country as a moment of poetic history in a c chief white house ritten in correspondent chuck todd is in accra, the capital of ghana, he begins our coverage. >> reporter: the president spent less than 24 hours on ghana soil but the trip was not short on emotion. the highlight was the first family's visit to the cape coast castle, one of the most infamous outposts the atlantic slave trade. >> it reminds us that as bad as history can be, it's also possible to overcome it. >> reporter: mr. obama's roots, the son of a kenyan goat herd are are well known but this is also an important visit for michelle obama whose oldest known relative jim robinson was a slave in south carolina. >> as americans, as and as african-american, obviously, there's a special sense that on the one hand this place was a place of profound sadness. on the other hand, it is here here where the journey of much of the african-american experience began. >> reporter: the obama's visit to the cape coast attracteded thousands, overflowing crowds f

he praised ghana for the democracy and economic progress. he also challenged people on the african continent to hold their leaders responsible for ending corruption and conflict. the trip to ghana marked his first trip since being sworn in. >>> michael jackson's sister latoya is reportedly convinced the king of pop was murdered. according to britain's news of the world, latoya jackson says her brother was killed in a conspiracy to steal his $1 billion fortune. she says she knows who is to blame and determined to see them brought to justice. she also says that cash and jewelry worth $2 million was stolen from jackson's home after he died. >>> tonight on hln news and views, shocking reports reveal michael jackson's doctors said the singer self-injected dangerous drugs into his system. other documents show at one point he took up to 40 xanax a day. the police chief says the coroner's findings will determine if jackson's death is a homicide or case of accidental overdose. nancy grace has all of the latest breaking developments at 8:00 and 10:00

the american president had visited ghana before but this is unique. something he noted is are in his speech. >> i have the blood of africa within me. >> reporter: when the father was born in kenya but he advised ghana. he called on other african societies to follow ghana's lead. >> it will take time and effort, there will be suffering and set backs but i can promise you this, america will be with you every step of the way. as a partner and as a friend. >> reporter: the president's visit to africa wraps up a week long trip in which he held talks in russia and attended the g-8 summit and met with the pope. on saturday he headed for home leaving the home of his ancestors. in washington. >>> the president will hos the president of the philippines. >>> sutomayor is hopeful and face tough questions from legal controversy as well as personal facts and views. she was nominated by president obama to become the supreme court's first hispanic justice. >>> still to come tonight on wjz eyewitness news. a swimming pool controversy protests legal action under way af

. >> a lot of excitement, enthusiasm in the capital of ghana, especially among young people. i am just about to walk into the classroom were some young kids are excited about the visit of this man. let's see but they are to say. hello, children. how are you? i cannot hear you. how are you? [unintelligible] ] >> excellent. you know who this man is? >> yes. >> what is his name? >> barack obama. >> who? >> barack obama! >> that is more like it. are you very excited about president obama's visit? >> yes. >> why are you excited? >> this is an historic event. he is the first african- american president of the united states and i feel privileged that he is visiting my homeland. >> ward you like barack obama? >> the what -- why do you like barack obama? >> the way he does things, he does what he wants to do. >> why are you excited about his visit? >> because he is the first african-american president. >> that is right. >> and he is coming to ghana. and who comes to visit donna? >> -- and who comes to visit, donnghana? >> what would you say to president obama if you met him down the r

this was how ghana react. they lined the streets from early morning to get as close as possible to the first african-american president of the united states. there was the motorcade and then an outbreak of jubilation. >> welcome, welcome. >> reporter: the first country in sub saharan africa to host president obama. and as the president went out of sight to outline his vision for the continent, the people crammed into any place they could find with a television set to watch him. >> the 41st century will be shaped -- >> reporter: some were just delighted by the matter sight of him in their own country. they cheered when he praised gauba's progress but also when mr. obama spoke about the continent's shortcomings from which they have not been spared. president obama may have come here to highlight ghana's success orcs but this country is far from perfect. >> we have suffered too much from a government's corruption, from poverty, from inability of providing good education. >> reporter: the failure to invest in infr

hope is certainly in the air in ghana. >>> on the streets of ghana -- >> obama! >> reporter: the party started long before the guest of honor arrived. members of this fan club, friends for obama, has been celebrating all week. >> it's direction -- >> welcome home. welcome to africa. welcome to ghana. >> reporter: president obama's visit will inspire the entire nation, they believe what does this torch represent? >> the torch as president obama is coming to ghana to signify that we change the world, we go about everything we do. >> ghanaians are welcoming obama like a native son. for these vendors selling souvenirs, it makes no difference that president obama's family is from an entirely different country. >> barack obama is kenyan. ghanaians are proud of him. >> we're part of it. >> reporter: it's pervasive. you can see today the front page of almost every local paper has obama on it. the streets are full of billboards and signs and the radios are playing obama music. >> a song welcoming obama. >> reporter: people are coming from all over the count troy do just t

and it's one that a former ghana supreme court justice says africans need to hear. >> one of the things we need in africa is for our leaders to be told where they go wrong. and to be told where they go right. >> the president was in ghana for less than 24 hours, which merited local criticism. the state department tried to make sure those 23 hours had impact, holding screenings of his speech to the ghana parliament and working with leading cell phone providers to provide streaming video to its 17 million subscribers. >>> locally now, wnst's radio is in full swing. the 24-hour marathon curing cancer one call at a time benefits the harbor hospital's harbor view cancer center. rex snyder and jason jubb are hosting the marathon and collecting donations. snyder has a personal connection to the event. >> we're raising money for cancer treatment but we're keeping it in baltimore. my mom was a patient at harbor. we lost her in 2003, but it's time for me to try to do something in her memory. her birthday's coming up so they were so gracious here with helping me out with this. >> the marathon star

and. >> reporter: in a speech to the parliament, he chose ghana as a beacon of predom in sub is a herron africa. >> we believe that democracy is not simply a gift from previous generation but a responsibility for each generation to preserve and to pass on. we believe that no one, whether through the influence of politics, the power of money or the fear of force is above the law. we believe that we're all equal, all endowed with basic human digni dignity, all entitled to basic human rights. it is up to each of us, every one of us to uphold those ideals. >> ed henry traveled with the president to africa and joins us now from accra, ghana. a very emotional trip, ed. >> very emotional, don. a day full of symbolism but also substance. barack obama essentially pushing his african brethren with what you might call tough love. a day of extraordinary moments, none more powerful than the first african-american president visiting a former slave fortress with his family. >> i think it was particularly important for malia and sasha, who are growing up in such a blessed way to be reminded that history

the first family is just back from a tour of the cape coast castle in ghana. president obama had something to say. this is live, let's listen in. >> it is a source of hope, it reminds us that as bad as history can be, it's also possible to overcome. thank you very much. >> and there we caught just the tail end of his remarks, but the good news is, that our major garrett is standing by in ghana to bring us up-to-date on what the president had to say as he makes this historic visit. major garrett, what's going on in ghana today. >> well, brian, when the president was introduced a couple of hours ago at the convention center here, the canadian parliament, the president john mills says she welcome you as a member of the african family. well, in the grandest traditions of family conversations, we can be blunt and sometimes carry an element of tough love. president obama delivered a speech like that here in accra not just to ghana, but to the entire continent and part of it was to say, look, africans futures are in the hands of the africans and you've got to get ove