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Obama's Ghana Visit Wraps Up; Pakistan's Military Offers to Broker Talks Between U.S. and Taliban

Aired July 11, 2009 - 14:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You are in the "CNN Newsroom." I'm Tom Foreman in today for Fredericka Whitfield.

You are looking at live pictures from Ghana from Accra, you can see the crowd gathered here in front of "Air Force One" gathering and watching for President Obama's departure from their country. President Obama has just arrived, was en route, they are working out the details here to the airport after helicoptering from Cape Coast Castle, which is a place he was at earlier today, a place known for a -- an outbound point for people who would wind up being slaves in north America.

A very dramatic and emotional visit there today for the president and his family. It's a place that struck many visitors to Ghana before as one of enormous historic importance, just as this trip today is.

You can see by how many people have gathered here today. All day long we have been hearing reports from people on the ground about how the Ghanaian people are very moved by the appearance of the president there and encouraged by his words.

He chose Ghana specifically because it is a working democracy, and for the many problems this country faces, it has made a lot of progress compared to others. And he wants to encourage many African nations. That's what he was speaking about all day today.

A departure ceremony is scheduled here before he leaves. That's what all the people are gathered there for.

President Obama and the first family are getting a major send- off, of course, in Ghana after this historic day there. This was his first visit to Sub-Saharan Africa as a U.S. leader. He had been to Africa before, but first as a U.S. leader, and, of course, the first by an African-American president.

Our White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is traveling with the president. Suzanne, what is the latest?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Tom, really the president getting an incredible welcome here in Accra, Ghana.

This is one of these countries on the continent of Africa that is really the favorite of administrations. I was here when President Clinton visited he brought free trade. I was also here during the Bush visit a couple of years ago when he brought money to fight AIDS as well as malaria.

It is fair to say that this president, President Obama, has really brought inspiration to the people here in this country and to the continent of Africa. You talk to the people of Ghanaians, and they talk about welcoming home a son, a brother, someone who they feel is really a part of the family.

And we heard the president earlier today talking good governance and responsibility, coming along with that, praising the Ghanaian people and their government for the stability here.

We also saw a very moving picture, a moving moment, the first family gathered to take a tour of Cape Coast Castle. It's 75 miles west of Accra. This is where about 1,000 people would be held in dungeons at a time for several months before they were sent off into these slave ships and to the door of no return off to the Atlantic and on to America, a very poignant moment for the first family.

As you know, Barack Obama, the son of a Kenyan, and also the first lady Michelle Obama of slave ancestry, and the two daughters, Sasha and Malia getting a tour of the place. Obviously, the president coming out afterwards to give a sense of what this meant personally for him and his family. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I think it was particularly important for Malia and Sasha, who are growing up in such a blessed way, to be reminded that history can take very cruel turns.

And hopefully one of the things that was imparted to them during this trip is their sense of obligation to fight oppression and cruelty wherever it appears, and that any group of people who are degrading another group of people have to be fought against.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: And Tom, really the message from the president in this trip to Accra, Ghana, was not only to the people here, but also to other African nations, African leaders, saying that it is up to Africans, the future to determine their own future, that the responsibility of good governance is up to them, that corruption needs to end.

And there was a real sense here that President Obama had the credibility to say that, unlike previous presidents, because of his own personal history, his personal connection to the people here in Africa, and that that was one of the things that people were really looking for. They were listening very closely.

We expect that the president will be making some sort of departing statement before he goes back to the United States. Once again, thanking the people here, and also trying to establish a real new relationship and a new way of viewing, not only this country, but the continent of Africa -- Tom? And we understand the president is on the ground there right now just changing his clothes before they take off for the big trip at a hotel right nearby.

FOREMAN: I have another question about this, Suzanne. You mentioned what he is saying to other nations. Earlier today he met with the Ghanaian parliament, and had some rousing words about what needs to happen there as U.S. support flows in.

Let's listen to some of that for a moment. Then I want your reaction to this, Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: Sure.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: I think it was particularly important for Malia and Sasha, who are growing up in such a blessed way, to be reminded that history can take very cruel turns.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOREMAN: Well, that obviously wasn't the word to parliament there, Suzanne. But, nonetheless, let me ask you about your reaction as we try to get the sound ready here.

What does he expect from these other African nations? Because to say that he would look their governments to stabilize and get rid of corruption is something that has been said before.

He may have more force in saying it, they may listen to him a little more closely, but nonetheless, what does he genuinely want to see from them and what are they going to ask from him or from the American country as a quid pro quo?

MALVEAUX: Certainly. And, you know, his message is not that different than what we have heard from President Bush when he was here, and not that different from President Clinton, as you have seen foreign leaders talking about the need for African countries to be more responsible, to end corruption, to end the violence.

Obviously, President Obama being received a bit better, warmly, more so than the others because he does have a sense of credibility.

But he went before parliament earlier today, and he said, these are his words, "Africa doesn't need strongmen. It needs strong institutions." So he is talking about the rule of law, he's talking about the role of democracy.

One of the things that he did that was so critical on this trip, he didn't just speak before parliament. He didn't just meet with the president of Ghana, but he met with previous leaders of Ghana from both parties.

This is a country and a place that not only able to transfer power, but transfer power from different parties, very important point he was making by meeting with the leaders.

He went on to say that no person wants to live in a society where the rule of law gives way to rule of brutality and bribery. He is holding these leaders to account. He is essentially calling them out, if you will, Tom.

It will be interesting to get a sense of some of their reactions to this speech. It was a tough speech. There was blunt language. But he was praising Ghana and other nations for moving forward, for, obviously, the responsibility and the democracy that has flourished here.

But at the same time, definitely looking at some of the other leaders, those other governments, and saying, we're going to do business with you, but we're going to do it in a different way, a way that hold you accountable for your actions, really making that plea very strong to some other African leaders -- Tom?

FOREMAN: Ghana really has struggled with this, Suzanne. A lot of people may not know it if you haven't followed it that closely, but Ghana went through a lot of its own internal troubles, coups, violence going on, for quite some time, until it stabilized and was able worked through these problems to accomplish precisely what he is talking about with other nations in Africa. And it has not been an easy path.

I want to get back to that sound that we mentioned a moment ago, as he spoke to the parliament there. You can hear in the president's own word what he had to say to the parliament. Let's listen to that now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: You have the power to hold your leaders accountable and to build institutions that serve the people. You can serve in your communities and harness your energy and education to create new wealth and connections to the world.

You can conquer disease and end conflicts, and make change from the bottom up. You can do that. Yes, you can.

(APPLAUSE)

Because in this moment, history is on the move. But these things can only be done if all of you take responsibility for your future.

And it won't be easy. It will take time and effort. There will be suffering and setbacks. But I can promise you this, America will be with you every step of the way, as a partner, as a friend.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOREMAN: Suzanne, I know you have to go so you don't miss the plane yourself. But very quickly here, what is the grade the White House is going to give to this overall overseas swing for the president? MALVEAUX: Well, talking to senior administration officials, they believe that incremental steps are a good thing, that you don't necessarily have to come away with major treaties, major agreements, that this is just the beginning.

It's his first six months in office. This is his third international summit. If they can establish relationships and understand that this is about mutual interests for each one of the leaders, how can they find some common ground, then clearly they have made some progress.

They have a long way to go. I think here a warm reception in Ghana. Obviously, people throughout Africa watching this and really feeling a kinship to President Obama.

Different when you take a look at the G-8 summit, when you take a look at his meeting with Russia's president and prime minister. But they feel like it is a good start, a good beginning. I don't know what kind of grade they'd give, but I think that this is an ongoing -- incomplete, you could say -- but a good start.

FOREMAN: Many thanks. First semester. Good work over there, Suzanne. Thank you very much.

Our Anderson Cooper has conducted an interview with President Obama in just the last hour or so. In fact it took place at the Cape Coast castle where the president and first family toured earlier. We are working on bringing you some of that sound, and we will turn it around for you as soon as it's in.

In the meantime, we also want to remind you we are going to have the president's departure when it comes up shortly.

And the Anderson Cooper interview can be seen in its entirety during an Anderson Cooper "AC 360" special on our show Monday night at 10:00 p.m. eastern, really going to be a fascinating interview to look at. Make sure you don't miss it. Anderson Cooper Monday night, 10:00 p.m.

It doesn't really get a lot of attention in general, this country of Ghana. But today the whole world focused on it. And it's quite an education for many of us. Our Josh Levs is here to tell us about the country and why President Obama selected it -- Josh?

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Education for me too, Tom. Really interesting to see what is going on there today. And we talked about politics and democracy.

I will show you all, it hasn't been there that long in Ghana, but first let's go to this map. I want to give you all the big picture. Zoom in, the Western section of Africa.

And once we're zooming into Ghana right there, there are two major locations I want you to see, because those are the ones in the news. They are along the southern coast there. We have ports, a lot of the economy. Cape Coast where you saw the president earlier, the location where there was the slave site. And Accra, the capital right there, where the president had been earlier, having a lot of very important meetings.

There you go, big picture on Ghana. That's where it falls in the world. Set your mind for it.

Now let's take a look at the politics. We have video and factoids. It was the first Sub-Saharan country to gain its independence. That was in 1957. But for a while after that, as on the next screen, they had a whole bunch of coups. Those just continued, people grabbing power. It was not the peaceful democracy we are hearing about today.

That went through 1981. It didn't stop then for a good reason either. The leader then banned political party, basically held onto power.

Then jump ahead 11 years, 1992. That's when you get to the basis for what President Obama is happy about now. In 1992 they got the new cons tugs approved. The parties were restored at that point.

And since then there has been what is considered to be generally democracy in Ghana. In fact, they had an election late last year, and it was close. And the winner won, and there wasn't a big fight afterwards.

That's where things stand right now, why President Obama wanted to highlight it. That's what he was talking about when he said this yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: Part of the reason that we are traveling to Ghana is because you have got a functioning democracy, a president who is serious about reducing corruption, and you have seen significant economic growth.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEVS: Tom, a lot more info at CNN.com following every little aspect of this. I got one of our videos pulled up right here. I encourage everyone to check it out.

But certainly, you can see, when you look at the changes that have happened there. That is exactly, Tom, the kind of thing that President Obama wants to see in other African nations that are having these struggles now.

You have got what, in some cases, are really tumultuous governments. He wants to see those peaceful democracies emerge and the economies that can go along with them.

FOREMAN: We'll have to see how it works out. Thanks so much Josh, good information. LEVS: You got it, thanks.

FOREMAN: President Obama calls the African nation of Ghana the beacon of light for democracy for the rest of the continent to follow. How did that come to be? We're going to have a crash course and we're going to learn more about that African nation.

Plus, as you can see, we are awaiting President Obama's arrival at the airport where a ceremonial departure will take place shortly before Air Force One takes off, wrapping up this historic trip for the president, to bring him home.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FOREMAN: You are looking at live pictures from Africa, from country of Ghana on the western coast of Africa, where we are awaiting President Obama, who is going to be leaving shortly there. He will come out and have a few last comments as he wraps up this historic visit by the first African-American president ever to the continent of Africa.

And by all accounts it seems to have been quite a success overall.

Bring it up and let you listen to the crowd cheering there for just a moment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(CHEERS)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOREMAN: That's what the president has been seeing all day there. A bit of a hero's welcome for many in Africa who are tremendously excited to see him. And he remains at the moment, according to world polls, the most popular political figure in the world right now.

So we will certainly see a big response when he comes out shortly for his final goodbye there. We will be waiting for that. We will go to that immediately when it comes up.

I see a crowd moving right now. Let's pause for one more moment and listen here and see if by chance he is coming out right now.

And it looks like that is a no. We'll check back in a moment.

In the meantime, let's look at some of the other news that is happening internationally.

There is an offer from Pakistan to help the U.S. negotiate with the Taliban, yes, negotiate with the Taliban. That's the offer. A top military officer says Pakistan can set up direct talks with the top Taliban leader in Afghanistan.

Our Michael Ware has more on this story from Baghdad, including some of the reaction from U.S. officials.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL WARE, INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, CNN: The Obama administration has expressed its first reaction to the Pakistan military's offer to help broker talks between Washington and the Afghan Taliban leadership.

President Obama's special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, said it was not surprising the Pakistan military was able to talk to the Taliban. However, he did describe their disclosure of the fact as a positive development.

RICHARD HOLBROOKE, SPECIAL ENVOY TO PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN: And there have been long allegations that there are continued contacts, and I think it's a step forward for the Pakistanis to say publicly what everyone has always assumed.

WARE: But under what some Pakistani military officers described as "intense pressure" back home in Pakistan following the revelations that the military was still talking with the Taliban, Pakistan military headquarters issued in Rawalpindi a statement denying the remarks attributed to its official spokesman as "baseless, fabricated, and taken out of context," even though those remarks were made on camera.

Nonetheless, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke says he will privately take up the issue with the government of Pakistan when he visits Islamabad in coming weeks.

Michael Ware, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOREMAN: Britain has reached a bleak milestone. The number of Britons killed in Afghanistan now exceeds those who lost their lives in Iraq. Fifteen British soldiers have died in Afghanistan's Helmand province over the last ten days. The surge of deaths coincides with the U.S. push into the province to take out the Taliban.

Now 184 Brits have been killed in Afghanistan, 179 in Iraq.

Tomorrow will mark the one-month anniversary of Iran's controversial reelection of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. But the protest over the results and Iran's bloody crackdown keep growing.

This one took place today in Washington, D.C. this afternoon. CNN's International Correspondent Reza Sayah is there. We'll hear from him in the next hour here in the CNN Newsroom.

A heavy military presence today in Urumqi, China. Listen to this.

This crackdown follows last weekend's violent protest there. Officials now reporting a big jump in the death toll. They say at least 184 people were killed. The violence was the result of ethnic tensions between the Uighurs, who are predominantly Muslim, and members of China's Han majority, and others there.

Fighting between rebels and government forces in Somalia has forced more 200,000 out of their homes in Mogadishu, both sides being accused of using torture and explosives to further their aims. The U.N.'s top human rights official says insurgents reportedly are using people as human shields.

They have been trying to topple the transitional government there since May, shades of problems in the past.

The Obama administration is subtly shifting its language on two Americans held by North Korea. Journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling were arrested back in March. They were sentenced to 12 years hard labor last month for entering the country illegally.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appears to be softening the U.S. position on their release.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: The two journalists and their families have expressed great remorse for this incident, and I think everyone is very sorry that it happened.

What we hope for now is that these two young women would be granted amnesty through the North Korean system and be allowed to return home to their families as soon as possible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOREMAN: We will keep abreast of all those developments.

But right now let's go back to Ghana, where the limos have just pulled up there, and we believe that President Obama is about to reemerge, come out, and say goodbye to the crowd.

You can hear the cheering there already there as people get ready for the historic moment. There he is. There are his daughters and his wife.

And truly, you cannot overstate the impact this visit is having on the Ghanaian people, who have seen presidents before. But this is the first African-American president. Listen for a moment what is going on there.

(CHEERS)

JOHN MILLS, GHANAIAN PRESIDENT: Fellow Ghanaians, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, all too soon our august visitor is to be leaving us.

But I would want on your behalf to thank him, his wife, his children, and his entire delegation for the honor that they have done us by choosing us as the first country to visit in Sub-Saharan Africa.

(APPLAUSE) We thank him for the message that he delivered to us. He wants to have a close partnership with us. He wants us to uphold democracy. He wants us to go down the trail which has been blazed for us. And he wants us to take our destiny into our own hands.

And there is hope, because hope is a very powerful weapon. The good lord has blessed us with abundant gifts and we know that this visit is going to open so many doors to us.

(APPLAUSE)

President Obama, there is not a single Ghanaian who is not excited by your visit. And a lot of Ghanaian begun praying for you the moment they heard that you were coming to visit us. The good lord has heard our prayers, and you have come.

And I think that by all standards, we can all say this has been a very successful visit. I would therefore, brothers and sisters, like on your behalf to say -- thank you, thank you.

May god safely guide you. Thank you, President Obama.

OBAMA: Hello, Ghana!

(APPLAUSE)

Thank you. Thank you.

I want to thank the people of Ghana for this extraordinary visit. Michelle and I have been greatly honored to be joined by President Mills and his lovely wife. They have been gracious hosts.

You know, your president and I have a lot in common. We're both lawyers, we're both former law professors, we're both new presidents.

(APPLAUSE)

We both look to think of ourselves as athletes. The difference is President Mills played hockey on the national team of Ghana, and I played basketball mostly in my backyard.

But we both love sports. We're both proud of serving our countries. And today I want to honor President Mills for his strong and thoughtful leadership, his devotion to democracy, and his commitment to the future of this nation.

I also want to thank the magnificent welcoming committee, including the drummers and the dancers. Michelle and I and our daughters enjoyed it very much.

I want to recognize our Peace Corps volunteers who are here.

(APPLAUSE)

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're proud of you.

(APPLAUSE)

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 walking back those doors of return. It was a remarkable reminder that while the future is unknowable, the winds always blow in the direction of human progress.

At each point of our visit here, I was reminded of the enduring bond between out nations. Men and women taken from this nation helped to build my own, and today many of our leading citizens trace their roots to these shores.

Your first president attended a university in the United States, as did your current one. Great civil rights leaders of America like Dr. Martin Luther King looked to the independence movement here in Ghana and asked themselves, if Africans can live freely in Africa, why can't African-Americans live freely in America?

Immigrants from Ghana and all across Africa have thrived all across America.

Today both our nations are diverse and vibrant democracies. Here in Ghana, many different ethnic groups speak many languages but have found a way few live and work together in peace.

People here can speak freely and worship freely. You have a robust civil society, fair elections and a free press, a growing market economy and a sense of energy and optimism. And every day with its success, Ghana send a simple message to the world that democracy can thrive in Africa.

So we in America are proud of our partnership with Ghana. Together we work to advance education and fight poverty. We have made real and measurable strides in fighting diseases from malaria to tuberculosis to polio and neglected tropical diseases.

This is a partnership we intend to continue, a partnership based not just on shared interests, but on shared ideals, ideals forged in struggles for independence that have made our countries who they are.

We believe that democracy is not simply a gift from previous generations, 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.

And we believe that we are all equal, all endowed with basic human dignity, all entitled to basic human right.

It is up to each of us, every one of us, to uphold those ideals. This is true not just in Ghana, but for all of Africa. America wants to partner with the people of nations of Africa, but we all know that the future of Africa is in the hand of Africans.

So I especially want to again speak to the young people of Africa. In places like Ghana, you make up more than half the population. And here is what you must know, that the world is what you make it. You have the power to hold your leaders accountable and to build institutions that serve the people.

You can serve in communities like these Peace Corps workers, and harness your energy and education to renew and build connections between the world.

You can conquer disease and end conflict and make change from the bottom up. You can do all that.

And I promise you this, if you seize this opportunity, if you take responsibility for your future, America will be with you every step of the way as a partner and as a friend.

(APPLAUSE)

You know, freedom is your inheritance, hard won 52 years ago by men and women determined to cast off the title of subject for the title of citizen and claim for themselves and their children the liberties that are all of our birth rights.

Dr. King came here to Ghana to witness the culmination of that struggle. He watched as the Union Jack was lowered and the Ghanaian flag was raised at the parliament. He marveled at the sight of the Duchess of Kent dancing with the new Ghanaian president at a state ball.

And in the sermon he gave upon returning home to America, he said of this new nation, "There is a great day ahead. The future is on its side."

Those words ring just as true today as they did more than half a century ago. Great days lie ahead for this nation. The future is on Ghana's side. I promise that America will be with you, and together we will create a better world.

Thank you, Ghana. God bless you. God bless the United States of America. Thank you.

(APPLAUSE)

TOM FOREMAN, CNN ANCHOR: And with that, President Obama wraps up his trip to Ghana, standing alongside President Mills there, as we heard the American national anthem and the Ghanaian national anthem "God Bless our Homeland."

And I am joined by somebody from that homeland. Robert Andoh lived in the United States now for many years, still has a lot of family back there, though. You were born there and you go back all the time.

When you look at this visit today and the real, measurable significance of it, what matters to you?

ROBERT ANDOH, PRESIDENT, GHANA ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA: Well I think that basically what has happened is that this visit clearly demonstrates the rewards of a thriving democracy. Ghana has had its political upheavals over the years. But in the last 26 years, this country has demonstrated good governance, a thriving economy, political stability.

And those keys -- key factors are critical, especially when it comes to the continent of Africa. And we are definitely the model. We are definitely showing the light to other African countries.

FOREMAN: You worked with the University of Georgia on small business initiatives, and in fact you said that just this spring you were back in Ghana looking at actual business initiatives that could be carried out there. These are the rewards you are talking about?

ANDOH: That is correct. One of the things that President Obama mentioned was the importance of empowering Africans to take charge. There is a lot of international assistance, but I think it is important for us to move away from international assistance and be dependent on our own resources.

And when I talk about resources, I am talking in terms of skilled labor that's pretty much spread all over the world.

So one of the things that the University of Georgia is trying to do, especially the small business department center, is to develop a concept, we call it the trainer concept, where would we go into Ghana and take business graduates and train them on how to become business consultants so they can go out and actually teach people the real spirit of entrepreneurship.

If you look at the U.S. economy, 90 percent of the U.S. economy, small business is the engine. So for Ghana to move forward, entrepreneurship is going to be the key.

FOREMAN: Why has that not worked so far for making Ghana further along the road. There must be either roadblocks in the way or cultural differences, something that has made it difficult. ANDOH: I think part of the problem has been, again, I talked about reliance on international assistance. But I think that what is happening is there are all cultural changed, business opportunities for Ghanaians, and also the climate, the political climate that has pretty much encouraged foreign investment.

FOREMAN: Let me bring in our Suzanne Malveaux, who is joining here by phone to talk about just that. Suzanne, this seems to be precisely what President Obama was talking about earlier today when he was saying we need African nations to be responsible for their own futures.

Is that in fact on target?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, SENATOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, CNN: That certainly is the message of this part of his trip.

And what we are seeing here is, really, he wrapped up a series of four major speeches. And senior administration officials say that this, within the first six months of the presidency, he wants to lay out a vision for what he sees his own administration's approach in dealing with world leaders.

And it started in Prague when he focused on nuclear nonproliferation and the need to address the threats of nuclear weapons around the world.

The second speech followed in Cairo, when he talked about a new relationship with the Muslim world and establishing a Middle East peace and the importance of a new kind of approach.

The third speech in Moscow was about pressing that reset button he talked about. Major powers of -- of the world, of the globe, trying to come together in their own, in their own interests, but also seeing some mutual, common interests.

And then finally ending here in Accra, when he talks about accountability and good governance, using this particular African country as a model of democracy and development to really make the case that Africa is a part of his international strategy, his international policy.

These four speeches really laying out what he believes is going to be the priority of his administration for the next four years.

FOREMAN: Robert, you made an interesting point here though. And when I think about what Suzanne is saying here, what the president said today, you need fundamental stability for any of that to happen.

ANDOH: That's correct.

FOREMAN: And many of the countries that the president is appealing to, there are people in power who have no interest in stability if it means them not having power.

ANDOH: That is correct. FOREMAN: How does that get defeated?

ANDOH: I think basically it starts with one of the things -- two things that have been very critical in helping Ghana get to that point is basically, freedom of the press. Freedom of the press, basically, has allowed for accountability.

And in this particular setting, accountability is critical, because then everybody knows we all are watching. We all are looking at what you are doing.

The second thing is we can't discount what Ghanaian abroad have contributed. We are talking remittance of billions of dollars yearly that goes to families back in Ghana.

FOREMAN: So it's not just a matter of supporting the community at hope. It's a matter of making sure the community abroad remains connected to home and develops enough opportunities to be helpful to home?

ANDOH: That is correct.

FOREMAN: It's a form of foreign aid that is much more personal and much more politically palatable than just saying let's write a check.

ANDOH: That's correct. That's correct.

FOREMAN: Suzanne, is that -- do you think this is the sort of thing that -- what kind of timeline does the president look at when he is talking about the kind of changes? I know they can't put a hard timeline on it. But politically, everyone wants to see results at some point.

What are they hoping for? In the best case scenario, what would happen as the follow-up to this trip?

MALVEAUX: Well, sure. I mean, he talked about the, the kind of lofty ideals that will define, or he hopes define his presidency. And the big question is whether or not he really is going to be able to get things accomplished with these leaders.

He clearly has very, they have close relationships, and he gets along well with many of the people that we saw him meet with over his seven-day trip.

But we also saw that that doesn't necessarily translate into any kind of policy changes per se.

One of the things that was a real challenge for him during this trip was at the G-8 summit in Italy, when he was trying to move forward on the issue of climate change.

The group did get an agreement, a goal, not to allow the earth's temperature to rise any more than 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit, a threshold that many scientists believe would be -- would really create a lot of problems for the world all around.

But he did not get what they were hoping for in terms of how much global emissions that does and world leaders would agree to reduce. And that is not something that is probably going to happen until December, when they will meet again in December in Pittsburgh for a summit, and then back again.

FOREMAN: Suzanne, I am going to cut you off here for a moment so we can listen to the crowd as the president waves goodbye to Africa on his first visit.

(CHEER)

And there you have it, quite an extraordinary trip there.

Robert, as you watch this, what do you think the timeline can be in terms of -- truly, many presidents have looked at Africa in the past. I was mentioning earlier today, George Bush actually spent more money and put more effort into Africa than any president before in terms of actually getting things done.

And yet there's very much the sense that it is just a start.

ANDOH: I think everything, when you are dealing with two processes, two bureaucratic processes, it takes time. It takes time to come to some sort of common ground, because sometimes there is a lot of what I call, there has to be acceptance of the program, not just talk. People want to see things happening.

Because there has been this general tendency of what I call the belief that everything goes to the people at the top. It doesn't trickle down to the person --

FOREMAN: You raise an interesting point. There was an international survey that was done recently that pointed out that one of the concerns around the world is people love Barack Obama by and large, hugely popular, but they really want to see the proof.

What is the policy? What is the change? What are the businesses your group is going to start, and will it really happen?

ANDOH: That is correct. I think you definitely want to make sure that, you know, I can pretty much speak from the business perspective, is we want to see more trade. We want to educate Ghanaians on how to do business in the U.S.

It's not a matter of just having a product, because in the U.S. there are rules, regulations that need to be followed.

FOREMAN: And the European Union.

ANDOH: That's correct.

FOREMAN: Robert Andos, very nice having you in here.

ANDOH: Sure, enjoyed it. FOREMAN: Native son of Ghana here with us today, really appreciate it, now living in the United States for almost 30 years.

So thanks so much for being here.

ANDOH: Thank you.

FOREMAN: Congratulations on the visit over there.

Suzanne Malveaux is gone now, but we appreciate all she contributed too.

Our Anderson Cooper met up with the president while he was in Ghana. You can watch Anderson's special on our show, "AC 360" Monday night at 10:00 eastern. Make sure you don't miss it. It will be fascinating television -- as we say good-bye to the president saying good-bye to Ghana.

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FOREMAN: Final images of Air Force One as it's preparing to leave Ghana on Barack Obama's first visit to the African continent. You can see the wheels just beginning to roll there.

This must be really an extraordinary moment for the president and his family after the day they had visiting the place where so many people were sent away from that continent into slavery never to return, going back to -- for his family and ancestral homeland, seeing so many sights.

And certainly a big, big day for the Ghanaian people, as we've discussed all day here today. We'll have some follow up as to all of this and see where it goes from here.

It is a legacy that has been built by presidents now for several years. After many years of ignoring Africa, there has been much more of a movement in that direction. So as the president takes off, we wish him a good flight, and see what comes next.

There has been a lot of news happening here in the United States while all that has been happening overseas. A true nightmare for families who lost loved ones -- acres and acres of graveyard with no graves.

The historic African-American cemetery outside of Chicago, Barack Obama's old home town, now a crime scene. Police say hundreds of graves were dug up and emptied so they could be resold.

Four people, all caretakers at the cemetery, have been arrested. They face felony charges of dismembering human bodies, and the police have closed it off as a crime scene for now so the families can't go back and look around at the moment until they can sort things out.

Police in Florida plan a news conference next hour on the shooting deaths of a wealthy couple there who had 16 children. Bird and Melanie Billings were killed during a home invasion in Beaula just outside of Pensacola.

The Billings, who already had four kids, were well known in the area for adopting 12 other children, some with developmental difficulties and other problems. Eight still lived in the home. None of the children was hurt in this.

The Billings home had an extensive surveillance system and captured video of three men driving a late 70s or early 80s red van. And of course, police are looking out for that now.

Former NFL player Steve McNair is being honored today in his home state of Mississippi, not terribly far away. His funeral service was held at Reed Green Coliseum at university of southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg.

McNair was killed last weekend by his girlfriend before she took her own life. That's what police say. Among the throng of NFL players attending the service, former New York Jets' quarterback, Brett Favre, and McNair's formers teammate Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis. A lot of tears shed for a tremendous player.

They make their living by picking garbage. And now one woman is using the trash to make an environmentally friendly lne of products -- important news that could be impacting your world soon.

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FOREMAN: Trash problems all over the world are plaguing countries as they try to figure what to do with them as the world's population gets bigger and bigger.

Over in Indonesia, however, it's fueling a cottage industry that has no place to go but up. And we mean that.

CNN's Tony Harris explains in today's "Impact your World" segment.

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TONY HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Garbage. It is everywhere you look in Indonesia's capital. The streets are covered. The canals are clogged.

ANN WIZER, FOUNDER, XSPROJECT: They do not have municipal funds to afford to clean streets. You know, they can handle as much as they can afford for flood control.

HARRIS: But what's an eyesore to some is a meal ticket for others. An estimated 350,000 to 400,000 trash pickers make a living collecting the waste from Djakarta's street.

Ann Wizer reached out to local trash pickers in her community. She offered above market prices to begin collecting plastic consumer packaging. This non-recyclable material became inspiration behind Wizer's environmentally conscious line of products.

WIZER: This is a floor pillow made from the leftover waste from excess projects. So, we made these as a way to use that up.

HARRIS: As the need for sustainability grows, Wizer realizes her work is just beginning.

WIZER: There are many, many groups now doing this. And that is very heartening.

HARRIS: As awareness takes root, Wizer continues to dream up new ways to combat the trash problem one wrapper at a time.

For "Impact your World," Tony Harris.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOREMAN: Nasty weather in many places outdoors today -- a look at where the severe storms are heading and where the dangerous heat is building up too.

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