    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [February 24, 1999]
    [Pages 256-257]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at the State Dinner Honoring President Jerry John
    Rawlings of Ghana
    February 24, 1999

        Ladies and gentlemen, good evening. I want to welcome President
    Rawlings and Mrs. Rawlings and
    the entire Ghanaian delegation, along with the distinguished Secretary-
    General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, and
    our other distinguished guests to the White House. Hillary and I are
    delighted to see you all here.
        There was so much interest and enthusiasm about this dinner that we
    had to move it from the dining room into the East Room. And you might be
    interested to know that it was in this room that Thomas Jefferson met
    with Meriwether Lewis to plan the great Lewis and Clark expedition,
    which explored the American Continent. It is fitting that we are having
    this dinner here, almost 200 years later, to chart a new century and to
    explore our relationship with Ghana and with Africa.
        It was no accident that Ghana was our first stop, our gateway to
    Africa, when Hillary and I and our delegation, the Members of Congress,
    the administration, and citizens traveled to Africa last year. Mr.
    President, in the last decade, under your leadership, Ghana has made
    great strides toward fulfilling President Nkrumah's vision of a proud,
    strong country.
        In important ways, it may even have surpassed that vision. Starting
    our African journey in a democratic country with a growing economy, a
    powerful commitment to tolerance at home and peace around the world
    allowed us to highlight for all Americans the progress that Africa has
    made and the promise of our future together. It allowed us to reaffirm
    for all of Africa that the United States is proud and determined to
    build a partnership of mutual respect with African nations which share
    our dreams of a better

    [[Page 257]]

    world. It also gave us the opportunity to get to know Ghana.
        It has become the subject of some raw humor in the White House that
    I never tire of telling people that we had a half a million people in
    Independence Square in Ghana. About--[applause]--thank you. Every time
    the Vice President gets a good news story
    these days, I say, ``But have you ever spoken to a half a million
    people?'' [Laughter]
        Let me say also, Mr. President, we all know that you have so many
    friends in the United States, quite a few here tonight. I want to
    mention, though, an astonishing fact that I learned about a friend of
    Ghana and yours who is not here tonight--also a friend of mine, who
    performed here for the Prime Minister of Great Britain--Stevie
    Wonder. He spends considerable time in Ghana,
    and actually, Mr. President, he has boasted in the United States that
    he's flown your airplane. [Laughter] I hope you wore a seat belt.
    [Laughter] With a story like that, he may be planning to run for office
    soon.
        I want you all to know I have spent an inordinate amount of time
    thinking about President Rawlings' political predicament. Listen to
    this: He was elected President by his fellow citizens in 1992. He was
    reelected in 1996. He loves his country, and he loves being President of
    his country. His Constitution prevents him from running again in 2000.
    [Laughter] Mr. President, I feel your pain. [Laughter]
        It seems to me the only response for two slightly scarred but
    energetic warriors like us is to renew our commitment and dedication in
    these remaining 2 years of our service, to make them count every day for
    all our people, so that when our citizens choose new leadership for a
    new century, we can know that we have done our best to pave their way.
        So let us tonight commit together to work on the things that matter
    to real people and to the children and their future: to strengthen our
    democracies; to broaden the reach of our economies; to make education
    and health care better and more widely available; to protect our
    environment; to work to convince others to seek peaceful solutions to
    conflicts within and among the nations we can reach. And let us commit
    to making the bonds between our two nations stronger than ever.
        Mr. President, Nana, it is a profound honor for Hillary and for me
    to have you here. And we now ask all of you to join us in a toast to the
    President and the First Lady and the people of Ghana.

    Note: The President spoke at 9:03 p.m. in the East Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, wife
    of President Rawlings; and musician Stevie Wonder.