Obama's Ghana visit, signal US won't play second fiddle to China in Africa: Experts

Accra, July 11 (ANI): Barack Obama's choice to visit Ghana after his successful diplomatic tours to Italy and Russia indicate that the US President wants to send a message that Washington won't take a back seat to China, which has been increasing its role in Africa through growing trade and aid arrangements.

"Some experts on African affairs are of the opinion that President Obama's presence on the continent, first in Egypt and now in Ghana, will help in showing that the U.S. and other major Western nations are not ready to let China have a 'free ride' in friendship and economic benefits on the African continent," Indiana University experts Assensoh and Alex-Assensoh wrote in a release.

Obama's choice of Ghana for the visit suggests that his administration will tie increasing aid for Africa to improved governance for African nations.

"Historians and experts on African politics feel that it makes a lot of sense for the young but very knowledgeable American president to visit Ghana," Assensoh and Alex-Assensoh said.

Ghana, which became an independent nation in 1957, has been a leader in Africa in achieving peaceful democracy, with the two major parties alternately winning the presidency.

Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Sasha and Malia will be in Ghana Friday and Saturday.

The Obamas will visit Ghana's capital Accra, and a former British fort at Cape Coast that was used to keep slaves before they were transported to the New World. (ANI)