[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 37 (Monday, September 22, 2008)]
[Pages 1209-1210]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at a Welcoming Ceremony for President John Agyekum Kufuor of 
Ghana

September 15, 2008

    President Bush. Good morning. President Kufuor and Mrs. Kufuor, it 
is a pleasure to welcome you back to the White House. The American 
people are honored to receive Ghana's official delegation. And Laura and 
I are happy to host two good friends.
    The ties of friendship between the United States and Ghana are 
strong, and they are enduring. Many Americans--citizens trace their 
ancestry to Ghana; for example, the great jazz legend Louis Armstrong, 
traced his ancestry back to Ghana. Centuries ago, Armstrong's forebears 
came to America as slaves. In 1956, Armstrong returned to Ghana and 
played a concert for more than 100,000 people who turned out to 
celebrate their country's march toward freedom.
    And when Ghana's independence was secure, President Eisenhower sent 
a message to Ghanaians from the people of the United States. He said, 
``We revere in common with you the great and eternal principles which 
characterize the free democratic way of life. I am confident that our 
two countries will stand as one in safeguarding this greatest of all 
bonds between us.''
    Half a century later, we see that President Eisenhower's confidence 
was well placed. Today, Ghana and America are still bound by our love 
for liberty, and we stand as one in our efforts to safeguard freedom.
    Ghana and America stand as one as we work to secure freedom from 
poverty. Ghana's leaders are governing justly, fighting corruption, and 
investing in their people. And

[[Page 1210]]

America is proud to support these efforts through our Millennium 
Challenge compact. Together, we work with Ghana to improve agriculture 
and infrastructure, and support development in Ghana's rural areas, and 
bring prosperity to Ghana's people. We have worked to promote free trade 
as a powerful engine of prosperity for both our countries. Last year, 
trade between Ghana and the United States was valued at more than $600 
million, an increase of more than 55 percent since President Kufuor and 
I took office.
    Ghana and America stand as one in our work to free people from 
illiteracy and ignorance. Through the Africa Education Initiative, Ghana 
and the United States have partnered to provide thousands of 
scholarships to girls. We've trained teachers. And across that important 
country, schools are being renovated, textbooks are being distributed, 
and Ghana's children are looking toward a brighter future.
    Ghana and America stand as one in our work to free people from 
disease. Together, we've protected hundreds of thousands of people from 
malaria. Starting this month, Ghana and the United States will begin 
distributing medicines to about 8 million people, as part of a new 
initiative to combat neglected tropical diseases.
    Ghana and America stand as one in our work to promote free 
elections. Ghana is now in the middle of a lively election season, 
marked by spirited debate and close-fought contests, which sounds kind 
of familiar, Mr. President. [Laughter] Whatever the outcome, Ghana is 
showing Africa that democracy is not a challenge to be feared, but a 
sure path to prosperity and peace.
    Ghana and America stand as one in our work to promote peace. Ghana 
is a vital partner in our efforts to resolve the crisis in Darfur. Ghana 
has more than 3,000 peacekeepers serving around the world, from Liberia 
and the Congo to Kosovo and Georgia.
    President Kufuor, your country is a model of entrepreneurship and 
democracy and peace on the continent of Africa. We are grateful for the 
warm friendship your nation has shown ours. When Laura and I visited 
Ghana this February, we were touched by the gracious hospitality shown 
by you and Mrs. Kufuor. Thousands of people lined the street to show 
their gratitude to America. One shop even painted the colors of the 
American flag; I hope their business went up. [Laughter] I was moved by 
your decision to name a new road the ``George Bush Motorway.'' Maybe 
next time I visit Ghana, I can see that motorway without stopping a lot 
of traffic. [Laughter]
    What inspired us most on our visit was the incredible energy and 
optimism of Ghana's people. I will always remember the Little League 
game in Accra, played between children from local churches and a local 
orphanage. As each young batter stepped up to the plate, we heard about 
their plans for the future, to become businessmen or doctors or 
astronauts or even a fashion designer. One after another, we saw 
children confident of their place in a free and prosperous Ghana.
    Mr. President, I congratulate you on the progress Ghana has made 
under your strong leadership. And on behalf of the American people, 
Laura and I are honored to welcome you and Mrs. Kufuor to the United 
States. May God bless you, and may God continue to bless our great 
nations. Mr. President.

Note: The President spoke at 9:11 a.m. on the South Lawn at the White 
House, where President Kufuor was accorded a formal welcome with full 
military honors. In his remarks, he referred to Theresa Kufuor, wife of 
President Kufuor. The transcript released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary also included the remarks of President Kufuor.