Cooper,
Great to see you blogging again! It's about time! LOL Just kidding! It seems that the pres doesn't leave much to chance during these visits huh? Luckily you got to see more than the rest with him. Looking forward to the interview.

And hey..how's the eye doing? It didn't look that bad...seriously! I could barely tell you were bitten. Take care...

C-Ya tonight!!

Cindy..Ga.

Like I asked before, is President Obama trying to cover up os destroy his original birth certificate? It's always a wonder when he has spent so much money covering up his past.

I cannot wait to see this interview. From the snippet it looks like an incredibly insightful interview. Sounds like you had and enlightening, inspiring and very positive trip. Spider bites and all. Very very much looking forward to the entire segment and all the news tonight. Glad you're back home safe and sound with some great material.

Wow, tweeting AND blogging. We're going to get so spoiled!

I read something on Drudgereport that said the crowds were not enthusiastic for the President’s trip. I’m not sure where that impression came from.

Well, it's Drudge..., not sure what you expected, but the debunking is much appreciated.

It sounds like you covered some great topics and I look forward to the interview.

PS: I read the tweet about your eye. Haven't other crew members previously had unpleasant encounters with creepy critters as well? I swear, CNN can't send you people anywhere.

Anderson,
Really looking forward to watching your interview with the President. I'm hoping, that as part of your broadcast, you will include some information about Ghana- history, culture, etc.

Hi Anderson

I can't imagine the list of questions you had for the President and how to choose which are the most important ones .The economy i guess whould have been at the top of your list it's hard to fit that in there's never enough time and Obama wasn't there that long .I love that moment with Pres Obama and his kids dancing it's so see to see him playing around jusat being a dad .

Thanks for blogging and i look forward to seeing your interview .

Michelle D.

most definately will watch and see how much he learnt and enjoyed on his visit...

I missed it where can I see it online?

Hi AC,

I love the photo of the parade, unforgettable moment for you and Barack Obama in the Cape Coast Castle.........a tragic place

Thanks for the written update and preview of your special; I will certainly tune in. I trust your perspective.

Anderson ,
i wish Pres Obama will go in another counrty not in Ghana you know Africa is not only about slave or enslave how about people from darfour or Congo . for me the Pres is in vacation with family doing tourist some think Pres Clinton did when he was in Office ! so please don t fool african people in make them think he was there for some help or some moral speech ! Sorry Anderson but i appreciate you make the effort to do the report there you need vacation too !!!!

Anderson, it will be interesting to watch you talking to the president and interacting with him. Sounds like a good in-depth interview. Hope he'll start putting his many eloquent words into action. As a person of color, I also disagree with all the focus on ethnicity and past racial oppression. Race should be insignificant, and it will fade into the background if people stop focusing on it.

Ay Anderson! I am reading your twitter comments about your swollen eye and sleeping with the lights on before your interview with President Obama. Had a good laugh here. Will I be able to watch that interview from Paris? Returning back to U.S. Thursday so I'm afraid I may miss it. Take care, hope the eye mends!

Great more ammo for the far right to focus on our President's haritage and try to use it against him. Their pulled something rediculous out of the piece and imply that he's only in this for African Americans. They will probably say,. of the dance, that it was his celebration dance. That he's king or somehthing. I just can't understand why this country wants to be pulled away from the center and as this president does more good, the far right is only getting more fuel to their hatred. Although I love what this President is doing, I fear that the far left will continue to be so angered by his non-missteps that they will do somethign dastic.

Thanks for blogging, Anderson. It’s fascinating to learn all the activities involved in a President’s visit and preparing for the interview. I think we take it for granted sometimes, but his visit is a big deal and takes a lot of planning. I can relate to your comment on having a restricted amount of time to interview. Twenty minutes seems like a lot, but it goes by fast. When I’m in a meeting with someone and I know my time is limited, I talk so fast and get breathless. Also, if you feel your question is not answered to your satisfaction, I imagine you have to strike a balance on when to push and when not to push and just let it go. I look forward to learning more about Ghana. I also hope you’ll be able to travel to other countries this year and provide us the awareness we need to understand their different cultures, politics, and history. I know it’s not news, but it’s education for your viewers and they are so hungry for this knowledge. And the more they learn, the more they’ll tune in. Thanks again for blogging. I can’t wait for the show.

Lilibeth
Edmonds, Washington

RL Wellman – WHAT in God's earth are you talking about? President Obama's trip to Ghana has NOTHING to do with his birth certificate. I can't for the life of me understand WHY YOU would even bring this foolishness up about the President wanting to HIDE or cover up his birth certificate. It's beyond LUNACY and IGNORANCE.

Barrack Obama was voted 44th President of The United States. You need to get over whatever delusions you have.

await interview, etc with baited breath.

Would be interested on impressions of the kids – from run of the mill kids in relative affluence in well integrated neighborhood (Hyde Park) to relative lap of luxury, certainly managed lives (Secret Service), to the history represented by the Castle. (Hmmm. I guess AC's take might almost be comparable.)

Interesting sociological, ethical quandary – when does altruism kick in versus the sense of needing to feather one's nest (nepotism, corruptions, etc.). How much of this is based upon upbringing – memes – versus sense of scarcity and oppression?

Africa – a part of the world many of us wonder if we will ever visit.

Anderson, this reminds me of my two tours through the slave chambers in Zanzibar. Though my ancestors did not get transported from that region, i sat both times inside and cried like a baby with a very heavy heart. How I pray we all can be more positive and forgiving as well as look on the bright side. This is just the first step to bring people into the awareness of Africa and its people. A baby step, yes, but still a step. I feel it is the mother land and we can not continue to rape and ignore this great continent and its people. No matter where he goes in Africa or around the world for that matter, people will always find something to b*t%h about. Sad but true. Don't worry, Congo and Dafour will be addressed and many, including myself, are in constant prayer over this situation as well as others.

Very cool Anderson..looking forward to it! You are a great interviewer so I have high hopes for you with this one...don't ask anything silly. I know we all like to hear about the family. Don't pick on him about Congress or the nit-picky stuff either. Some real news would be nice!

Anderson,
It's great to see your writing on the blog. I enjoyed your twitter entries over the weekend–and saw a few excerpts from the interview. The Cape Coast has a natural beauty surrounding it, in spite of its tragic history. Being there must leave some strong–and profound–impressions. I'm looking forward to your full interview–and your special later on.

In one of President Obama's speeches, he made the comment that the continent of Africa needs to assume responsibility for the mess it's descended into. Obama talked about corruption in the government and a society that isn't standing up against evils that would never be tolerated in a society like ours: systematic rape of women to keep them in fear and the use of children as soldiers of war.

I really don't care about a castle, a silly dance, or even your bug bite. The newspapers are talking about the real issues, why can't 360?

re: "...an hour special: "President Obama's African Journey"; I hope you tune in." I will.

I love how the campaigner in chief picks and chooses distorted information from his past to advance his image when needed yet refuses to acknowledge or provide facts about who he really is...I am interested to see the interview just to see which person tries to project the "cooler" image...

It would be a good story to check which tribes captured their own kind and brought them to trade for money and goods. You will find that racism existed then among the African tribes also or the slave trade could not have existed or flourished. It would have taken a brave soul to go into the middle of Africa and capture people without some sort of agreement with the ruling hiarchy. It would be surprising too also to learn which ethnic groups started the slave trade and from where. It probably was not the US first.

Anderson,

Your interviews with Obama have never been very "challenging" in the past. You always seem to let him control the interviews and go off on tangents of his choice, so I was surprised to hear you question Obama about the effectiveness of the stimulus package. A good question, but I wonder if you asked a good follow up and not just let him make excuses for his "miscalculation" of the unemployment rate and the effectiveness of the stimulus package. This is why I am suspicious of politicians who insist on giving absolute numbers.

I would have liked to see Obama visit the war torn areas of Africa and not just a vacation spot for tourists.

Based on what I have seen and read about this visit, it seemed more like a publicity tour for you and Obama than anything else, but I will hold my final judgment until after I watch the entire interview.

Maybe you will surprise me.

Hey Anderson,
I knew from back in your Channel One days that you would be a great reporter, you even were back then. I am happy to see that now you have your own show and are really big in the whole news industry. Keep up the great job, you are one of the best!!

Muscles: On an interview last week about Sarah Palin you said, "I know nothing about sports." Au contraire, just look at that bulging bicep in your picture above! Know "nothing" about sports...it isn't possible with a physique like yours, Stud.

Coopers needs to interview people who are staring to death.

Thanks to AC 360. I can't wait to watch your program tonight. Your program keep me up to 11pm everynight. Good job AC

This is definitely something one stays home to watch, even on a warm, balmy summer evening. I enjoy your blog & Twitter/Tweets, personalizing your experiences. Maybe I won't see Ghana, but I have been to the continent of Africa; however, your impressions, your interview of President Obama will make me feel as though I am there,too. Hope your eye is ok now.

Good work Anderson, just saw a snippet of the interview, Pres. Obama rocks, great president . Will sure be watching this evening! How I wish you could send me the A360 t-shirt huh?

I'm really looking forward to seeing this interview. It will be interesting to see how President Obama's children reacted to the journey and how he did as well. I'm glad that you were able to Blog about your trip and that you were able to inform others of what it was like to actually be in Ghana in general and during such an important trip. The pictures are really incredible as well and it seems like an interesting place to visit. I didn't have much of a desire to visit Africa at any point in my life, but now that I've heard about Ghana and seen what you have been through there it made me want to go there and experience these things for myself. Thank you for doing this special for CNN. I hope you were able to stay safe and bug free during the rest of your trip.

Well, if it wasnt for this Castle people like Obama and Oprah would just be poor villagers somewhere in Africa. How is that for irony........

Come to think of it, if not for slavery blacks would likely not have the political power and wealth they enjoy in America.

I suppose you have to take the good with the bad

Anderson, I am anxious to watch his interview. There are many doubts in our heads. President Obama has little more than 6 months of government, was not enough time yet, but with the economy weakened, there is so much expectation on his actions.

Great picture of you walking with the president. Worthy of a frame, huh!

Your eyes were perfect ... after all, the spider was not so bad like that! lol...

See you ...

Anderson –

I look forward to watching this program tonight. I am sure you did a wonderful job interviewing our president. I think you are the best journalist! I like your style, your humor and your intellegent comments on what happens everyday in US and all over world. Keep up the good work. I am a huge fan of you!

Dear Mr. Cooper,
To and for all of your viewers and readers, I've been to Ghana. I also walked the grounds of both the Cape Coast and Elmina facilities. I call them "facilities" for the purpose of this blog entry because as a black man, I tried to look at and imagine the place where I actually was. And after walking down into the male slave holding cell nearly two-stories below ground, without light and only four cinder block sized windows through which food and water was thrown down to the men crammed in the standing-room only cell as they waited to be shipped to God only knew where, I find it impossible to fix my mouth to refer to these facilities as "castles". More to the point of the Guides who called them "dungeons" would I find more truthful and comprehensible. In fact the reason the word castle was used was to not offend the Anglo/European tourists who were considering visiting these destinations. The more things change the more things stay the same — The Marketing of Africa. Safe travels Mr. Cooper.

As always, I know you will do us proud Anderson. I'll be tuning in.

i think u r the coolest and i am sorry for the spider bite. i continue to pray for the president and his family and u and our nation and our world. thanks for the coverage!

Hi Anderson,
I know that you are enjoying yourself in Ghana. Ghana is a safe country to visit.
Tell President Obama that I don't fault him for not visiting Nigeria. I would not visit Nigeria myself if not for the people I left behind, when I moved my family out in 1988. Nigeria is not safe for the its people and it is worse for visitors.
I was born in Nigeria, though I don't refer to myself as a Nigerian. This is because I hate the fact that Nigeria – a country rich in natural wealth – has been saddle with poor and corrupt governance since its independence. The corruption is keeping investiment and tourism away and this at the expense of its poor people.
May one day God will clean Nigeria up.
J. Adegboyega

Dear Anderson,

It is always really nice to read "your" blog! I have been following your messages on Twitter. Thank you! Hope you received my replies too
And also hoping that your eye is back to normal.

I am anxiously waiting for the interview episode. Sad that I will only get to watch today's episode tomorrow, since I watch the podcast.

Thank you and your team for all the hard work that you do to keep us informed with what's happening around the World!

Best,
Shilpee
Austin, TX

I'm of the opinion that Obama set exactly the right tone by focusing on education, corruption and the need for peaceful transitions among stable administrations, a fundamental for true democracy.

The past is tragic, lamentable and dark but not the cause of the woes of the African peoples. They must not be forgotten but they cannot be the cloth that obscures the opportunity now realized to make dramatic changes in their future by their own hands.

Kudos to Obama, his staff and planners for this trip. Well done.

AC – This "Castle" in Ghana is the ultimate Irony, as is slavery. Since Obama was born in Kenya, I am sure he can relate to this. If Michelle Obama's relatives were not taken on slave ships to places like the US, she may be living in a tribe in Africa, or been killed in the endless fighting in several of these countries. Her relatives paid the price for her to enjoy the boundless benefits she gets by being a US citizen.
Mike
Hawaii
P.S. Are you ever going to look into Obama's college records?

Hi Anderson,

I am actually very interested to hear President Obama's impressions of his trip from the castle. We hear a lot about his policies, etc, on other programs, but I very much enjoy the unique, personal glimpses you give us about our leader. We learn a lot about people from their impressions and reflections in quiet moments, and this gives us great insight into how someone views the world.

I personally think that this is a very unique aspect of your reporting. I usually go to bed early, but will actually stay up tonight just to watch this segment. Please continue to show us these rare glimpses of what people are really like, that's reporting at its best.

Hi Anderson,

I just wanted to say thank you for bringing the President's visit to us. I think that it is very important that he went there, because just like he set an example for young Black men in America, he also set an example for young Black men in Africa. Yes, it is possible for a Black man to be President, and if Mr. Obama can do it, there is no reason why folks in America and/or Africa could not. This, to me, is the most important lesson to be learned out of this visit – besides, of course, the history and landscape of the beautiful country of Ghana. Again, thank you Anderson and keep up the good work – I learn more from your programs than all the other networks and newspapers combined. Thank you!

This is for Ellie–Hey AC–Would you ask Obama if you could see his birth certificate?

RL Wellman, according to the US Constitution, a person cannot become President unless they were born in the US. Do you mean to say that President Obama somehow managed to have ALL OF US fooled? That he defied the Constitution with the blessing of the US Government? Maybe no more so than Bush did – after all, also according to the US Constitution, a person cannot become President if they have a criminal record, and Mr Bush has more than one cocaine convictions and DUIs on his record. What do you make of that?

I was at that Castle last year, and as a white person traveling with very good friends who are from Ghana (they currently live in the U.S.), the oppressive and claustrophobic feeling I got when I walked through the windowless caves confirmed what every American, black, white, or purple or green should do – visit this place. You will never question the blessings you have in your freedom again. Although it is rooted in European "business", the slave trade was a way for villages to get rid of the "unwanted", "criminal", and/or "political enemies". The result was the onorous creation of man's inhumanity to man. But – It is not just an American issue – let's bring that out and discuss how slavery of any type needs to be eradicated. Put some stimulous money in that area; look at the current slave trade of children. That would truly be money well spent.

Anderson- As a Ghanaian American living in Chicago- l will be watching your show to tonight to see how fair and accurate your report will be about Ghana. Let not forget- Not all countries within the African Continent has the same problems. l hope your show enligten and educate the general public about Ghana, and it unique and vibrant economy, and democracy. The first country europeans arrived , the first country to gain independence. Akwaaba- Anderson – Hope you enjoyed your stay

By feeling it necessary to bring up the Drudge report one can only assume once again Obama's cheering section in the media is distorting the truth.

As a Ghanaian American, I was very happy to know about Obama's visit to Ghana. His speech to the Ghanaian parliament was right on the money, and he seemed to have done his homework about corruption on the continent and other issues very well. Hopefully African leaders took note: "Africa does not need strong men, but strong institutions".

His choice of Ghana over the rest of sub-Saharan countries, including his father's (Kenya), hopefully sent a strong message to the other countries" leaders. However, I think he should have interacted more with the populace and indigenes more, just like CLinton did in 1998. Obama is probably safer in Ghana than within the US. Ghanaians are peace-loving people and will do everything to protect him.

The signicance of the first African-American President touring the site where so many africans were forced to begin a journey many did not survive to a land that would enslave them for hundreds of years, is incredible. This speaks to the endurance of a people and its will to not only survive but to overcome, despite overwhelming odd.

Thank God!

AC – I wish you would ask Obama why he is on the wrong side on the Hondouras issue. The Supreme Court of Hondouras didn't initiate a Coup, they prevented a Coup. Why doesn't CNN and other liberal outlets get it?
ML

i have watched your broadcasts and i think your the only person who can answer my Question, i am a perminent resident, i have served in the military, and i was an auxiliary police officer with the nypd. but even still, the fact that i swore on a red carpet and infront the US flad to protect and defend this country, put my life on the line, for this great land and the rights of its citizen. How come Mr. Anderson i have been turned away on alot of occasions from becoming a police officer, or any law enforcement official, that's why i left the auxiliary police. I can die for this country but when and if i return i cant become a law official? I think that is so wrong. (uncle sam) "hey you can join our military and die for our rights, but yours is not important, you can not become a police officer to police OUR citizens" i was told this by a lieutenent from the NYPD.

It will be nice to hear an interview with the president that isn't just a press conference. I have to say that I rather miss the days of the election when we could turn on CNN and hear so many of his wonderfully eloquent speaches. The man has a true gift and I'm sure this will be a wonderfull interview.

Anderson Cooper, I am a huge fan. You inspire me.

I will say, I wish you would specify and call your project "President Obama's Ghananian Journey" if it's just in the one country. I believe "African Journey" contributes to the idea that Africa is a country.

Thanks!

I would like to see your interview w/ the President . You are making history w/ President being there in Ghana.Tell us about your experience.

Pilar

anderson,
so excited that you are doing something on Ghana. as a ghanaian living in the U.S I am soooo proud and I have ad so many friends and family calling, texting and facebooking about the special today and tomorrow. keep up the good work and we will keep watching you

Anderson,

I have enjoyed your interviews and hard-hitting reports on very difficult issues over the years. Our country is going deeply into debt, unemployment is nearing 10%, and the "ambitious" agenda involving health care reform and global warming abatement will place severe limits on how the country can protect itself from current and emerging threats. I hope your mallet does not turn into sponge rubber when covering this administration

I hope Anderson will actually ask him tough questions.

Anderson: It doesn't matter whom you report on your commentary is always the BOMB!!!! We love Anderson Cooper in my household.

I love Anderson Cooper, he is such a gentleman and donot put people down like other station. That's why I love CNN

I like Anderson Cooper, but 360 definitely needs some more 'journalism' going for it. And I say this loving Obama and everything he says and stands for.

I am looking forward in hearing all about his trip to Ghana, I would love to go and visit myself. I think your reporting is great, and if I ever had a story to tell-I would ask for you:-)

Great pics! Looks like your eye is much better now. Hope that you feel your interview was/is successful. No doubt, it'll be interesting and informative as usual. Take care, thanks for all your hard work.

I'm sorry, but the headline for this - "Anderson Cooper interviews Obama in castle" is just silly.

Anderson Cooper is by far one of the best journalists in the World. Can't wait to watch the Interview tonight.

Julie – AC is just providing some context around the interview in his blog post. He mentioned real, serious issues he and Pres Obama discussed in the interview which will be shown on 360. If you examine the newspapers you will find they have various sections and not all of those section are about hard news.

This article was nothing but a commercial for his program. That’s the last time I’ll spend the time reading his article. Big waste of my time.

I have to ask what connection Obama has with the slavery/slave trade??? Did the white or black side of his family own slaves? Is he trying to associate himself with a past that wasn't his?

Great reporting Anderson. You are so fantastic. I am a faithful viewer of AC 360. Keep on keepin on Anderson!

How can BO afford to travel with the massive deficit he has rung up.
It's just typical black people spending money they do not have.
A better interview would be with his granny in the Kenya, you know, the story about BO being born in Kenya. Honeymoon is over you silly stiff libs.

I thought the president's visit is necessary and the questions asked about US policy on Africa. I have just returned from Africa and the insensitivity of its leaders is nothng but a crime. The level of hardship, death and disorder is unimaginable. The leaders conceal these things with physical infrastructures while govt funds are shipped openly to foreign lands, into personal accounts. The US policy ought to be one that holds these nations leaders very much accountable. People are just slowly withering away, so unfortunate, painful indeed.
The greatest gift the US and the west can give these countries is good government. Just assist them to elect and not to select their leaders. Corruption has dominated every aspect of life or activities, including elections. Their salvation will come from the U S finding genuine men and women here and sponsoring them to step into power in Africa.

The castle is a very important part of the history of the slave trade. I learned only recently (I live in California) that my home city of Liverpool, England has the only slavery museum in the world.

Veronica McNamara

As a wife of someone from Ghana who daily has to explain to people that my husband did not grow up with elephants and tigers in his back yard; it made me shake my head why there are so many pics, and video in some of the poorer villages and not a beautiful prosperous city like Accra. This was your chance Anderson to break the stereo type of world vision commercial everyone things Africa is!

Wow RL Well man – You just are a hater. That saddens me that people have such paranoia about our great leader. Try to be a patriot and support your brilliant President.

All the ugliness and negativity does no one any good. Our Country needs positive energy and a spirit of kindness and volunteering. Perhaps your heart and mind can become open to the possibility that the world will be a better place if we learn to live together and be kind to our neighbors (and leaders).

Try.

Anderson Is such an artist in what he does..I became a fan during the Katrina crisis and I have never been so intrigued by a reporter...Reporting at its best with heart and soul and great compassion in his eyes. everything he reports is well done and drags you in... I love this man...:) Not in a obsessed phsyco kind of way but in a "I love the way he does it innocent kind of way.

Anderson, it's great to see you blogging again and that you've had another opportunity to interview President Obama on the major issues that he's currently facing in the US in addition to his impressions of Africa – it sounds like this will be a wide-ranging interview in spite of the time limitations. I've always enjoyed when you've reported from Africa over the years and hope you will continue to focus on what's taking place there.

My favourite anchorman with my favourite President – must see tv By the way, I love your commentary Anderson – you need to resume blogging more often.

Hi Anderson!

I am so glad you had the opportunity to interview Obama at one of the most historic sites in Ghana. Both of my parents are from Ghana, and I have visited El Mina Castle numerous times. It is a beautiful place with an ugly past.

anderson, i love your work and interviews. president obama on fathers day, talked with the african american men regarding supporting thier children. it was a good speech. but, this whole thing about targeting black men (fathers) and labeling them as dead beats and etc has some real serious flaws.

what about the many black women that for whatever reason are under developed emotionally, creates a horrible situation for the fathers of their children, make it difficult for the father to have access to their children, are vindictive and use the system aas a way of punishing the child's father for a relationship that didn't work out? why doesn't obama have michelle to talk to those women just as he talked with the african american men? simply because it is fashionable to label and suggest that black men dn't take care of their kids and women are good even if they're on welfare, cheat on their children's fathers and run them away, get every gov program benefit and assistence while the man gets blamed and castigated for not having enough to contribute.

i lost my job last year do to cutbacks. i'm having a hard time getting employment. does that make me a dead beat dad? or, a bad father? am i a bad father because the gov says so? or because the mother is angry at me for personal reasons?

michelle needs to talk with black women and help them see that making it hard for the fathers is making it hard for the children ....

thank you.

Hey Anderson,

You wrote! – Yes! I love your writing!

I agree – organization is remarkable!

All those tabloids – standing in line at the grocery store – I'm thinking – none of this is true. Don't believe everything you read.

The pictures look like your very happy there. My favorite is the one where your looking at the sign.

Sounds like great topics to see/hear about.

Thank you.

Karen

Obama's visit was very impressive. He made a great choice when he picked Ghana over Kenya and all other African countries. For instance, a visit to Kenya would have been a PR disaster for his administration. Ghana is a great country for US relations. It is the center of the world and The US has the biggest Enbassy in Africa located in Ghana.

Great job Anderson. Keep doing the good job of informing us.

RL Wellman- you seem to be an authority on the birth of the President, so please prove to us about the original birth certificate, and please let us know about the amount of money he spent trying to cover up his past. Apparently you have more information on these topics than anyone else, probably more than the President himself. Now I guess you think that most of us are not smart enough to figure out your tired old rhetoric. Now prove it or get off the pot! (being nice)!

Cooper you are such a huge asset to CNN, you tell it like it is instead of sugar coating everything!!

Hope we all learn something from this interview!!

Very Cool Anderson. Love you President Obama

For having been in office this short time, AND handed immediately a number of 'hot pokers' to juggle, I feel that President Obama is doing an amazing job!

@RLWellman...please Sir, step away from the crackpipe. Really? Are you seriously suggesting that President Obama is not an American citizen? Don't you think that if that were true, that it would have been proven to be the case by the appropriate authorities by now? If we can target and take out terrorists in the middle of a mountain range, snipe pirates with pin-point precision, use nano-technologies to perform medical procedures and create human sperm from cell stems, I am sure that we can determine if someone is a US citizen or not (especially someone so high profile as the President)....This is not healthy. Conspiracy theories and hate-filled thoughts can ruin your life, and others. You are occupying space in your brain that could be taken up by something credible and educational. In the words of a great philosopher.....Yoda,"anger, hate, aggression...the dark side are they....consume you it will" ... Do yourself and those around you a favor, let it go.

Looking forward to your piece Anderson!

Anderson does such a masterful job at the art of interview, he makes it look so casually easy just questioning the most powerful men in the world about decisive issues that face us all. Sorry to hear about the eye, maybe you could sport a pirate patch? hah, -MO

Hi AC, yes, this journey to Africa and for President Obama to be interview is a historic moment of our time. It gives hope for many things that are yet to come. It also vivdly reflect the past and make what is now the present. I am glad that I have a night off because I don't want to miss this interview for anything. Thanks for the good work you always do.

Dear Anderson,

The visit of President Obama in Ghana and Cape Cost Castle, in my oppinion, was a very important and signivicant visit. I also think, it is still a historical visit, because it can not be done enough to give something back, something Western developed countries have been taking away from Africa, for more than hundreds of years, without reinvesting in this continent.

Although, we still have a very serious and difficult economic situation in the world, I believe, that nations, such as USA and Europe will be able, to reinvest in Africas self-determined development, for example with training-programs for young people, biological farming, de-
veloping green energy, and assistance in medical service.

President Obama is giving so much hope to this world, to so many
people – and I wish this President, that he will get all the necessary
support from his administration, as well as from the American people,
to continue sustainable in global, African and American economical,
political, social and environmental issues.

Thank you and your team very much for your report and your interview.

With best regards,
Sabine (Vienna)

Anderson,

Thank you for featuring the Slave Castle on your recent trip to Ghana. We have walked through the castle while visiting our Peace Corpos Volunteer in Ghana. It is truly an amazing and emotional experience and I hope your viewers appreciated President Obama's visit there and your time with him.

Anderson and Obama are two of my fave people. I remember Anderson the most from that one mine disaster where he was reporting everyone in the mine alive (due to what was reported from rescue workers in the mine) and then a woman came up and told him they just found out that information was wrong, right on the air, and people were going crazy about it.

Obam's got a tough job, things are getting better in the economy though so chillax everyone until the 2 years are up and we've seen the end of it. Like he says, more can be done too if needed.

So glad you did this important story. So glad, too, the Obamas chose to visit this country, speak to the government leaders, and tour the castle. Our President always takes the high road, never the easy road. We all wish him much success.

Anderson,I believe every individual has the right to his or her opinion,however my heart is grieved when I read blogs written by people in the so-called developed world,raging and claiming that Obama just wanted a vacation with his family and decided to visit the Cape-Coast castle and others saying ,"they don't care about a castle or a silly dance".Rather brewing hatred in the hearts of Africans by making comments with such negative and strong racial sentiments.
We must all realize that whatever has happened and will happen in Ghana or Africa will also shape the world.
Until people across the world accept that we are all God's children and are equal, the world will never be a better place.

sounds awesome. a very sad time in history when people owned people. we should never forget. and know the whole story. thanks for telling party of it.

Anderson, Can't wait to see your your report on your trip. The pictures are amazing to see. Hope your eye is feeling better loved reading your tweets! funny! Hope you get some rest, you have to be extremely jet lagged, being in LA last week, NYC, and now Africa. Sleep, my friend, sleep.

Looking forward to seeing Anderson's interview and some more glimpses of Ghana. It looks like there was much excitement over the visit of the President and his family. With all of the advanced planning, staff who have to work out the details of the visit and security requirements, how large would the cost be to the people of Ghana, or would those costs be covered by the US government?

Hi AC,

Big fan! you have no idea how much i love your perspective, energy, wit, jokes and fun as you do your show.

Interviewing President Obama could be a huge highlight of your career. Can't wait to see it. You'll do great. My parents watch you from overseas, we watch you with my husband here in CA and i know you are excited! So are we!

I envy you, Anderson, for all travel opportunities and very special things you get to do, though I'm sure there's much hard work involved, too. Thanks for taking us along! I always feel that you're doing it for us and not for your own aggrandizement.

Hi Anderson. I am looking forward to watching your full interview with President Obama tonight, as well as your special presentation, "President Obama's African Journey," later on this week. I would love to get a little listen to the Ghanaian Bar-ack song; your description of it made me thnk of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."
I don't know "99 Luftballoons."

Sure sorry about the insect bite to the eyelid. Spiders like to get inside of shoes too, so you should always look inside before you put them on.

Ghana should appreciate the fact that president Obama was in the country.It doesn't matter wheather he was on holidays or not.Am a ghanaian and l feel so proud that president Obama visited my countr.l appreciate the fact that he even choose ghana.Hi Anderson am your greatest fan

Hi Anderson, I'm so happy to know that you're in Ghana with Obama. I was the only African American on my Habitat for Humanity team when I traveled to Ghana for my 40th birthday at the end of 2007, when Ghanians were already chanting Obama's name to us back then. During our trip, I successfully convinced the team to take a detour to the Cape Coast to visit the slave castles versus staying overnight in a Kente cloth weaving village. I explained to them: this is OUR history, the foundation of American history. We rode for seven hours in a bus along a slave trade route that Africans once traveled by foot, chained to their fellow captives on their way to slave castles run by the Dutch, Portuguese and British along the Cape Coast. We learned how hundreds of thousands of Africans, succumbing to illness, fatigue and murder, died along the 100-mile walk on dirt paths to the Cape. When we finally arrived at Elmina castle, teammates kept asking me "are you ok?" during the tour. I guess, expecting me to break down in tears, or something. Behind the pains my own childhood and the knowledge of my slave history, I was at peace as I stood in the slave castle. The tour was a testament to the strength of my character as an African American. There was no room for anger and no need to break down in tears. On a lighter note, make sure you get pictures of the students at the University of Cape Coast, the women who walk with children strapped to their backs and pounds of items stacked on their heads, and the biblically relevant yet amuzing storefront signs along the road. The relentless spirit in this West African country, celebrating 50+ years of freedom from the British, was contagious in the developing country. “We’d rather try to succeed on our own and fail than remain under the oppressors rule,” was the common sentiment in Ghana. I love that country. Hope to go back soon.

Anderson, you know how far the news has come into the Twitter Age. I hope others will follow you and report the news, not use the news hour to report and promote their clandestine opinions in the hope of swaying our perception of things. We are much more educated and in touch with the realities. I really enjoy your time on the air.................keep the news "alive" Anderson !

Why does American News Media say "Africa" when reporting about any country in Africa. Yet, they are always country specific when reporting about countries in the rest of the world?
President Obama recently visited Ghana, the news headlines is "Obama in Africa". But, when president Obama was in Russia an Italy respectively, you don't hear "Obama in Europe".
Every American media is guilty of this "mis-education' of its audience.
And we wonder why the average American is geographically illiterate.
Another insulting practice by American media is "sub-texting interview of Africans, when many of these individual speak proper English. Except for Benjamin Nentanyau and few Israelis, most Israelis speak English with some funny accent. But, no one dare sub-text interview with Israelis speaking with accent.
Egypt is an African country, the media often refer to it as the Middle-East, including a few other countries in Northern Africa.
This bias towards Africans countries needs to stop.

Great interview! Thanks AC

I feel so misinformed, I don't find the Presidents trip to Africa interesting in anyway.I live in an area where people walk the streets smoking crack cocaine, shooting at killing each other . I see young soldiers getting killed in a new push in Afghanistan at an alarming rate. I watch our medical efforts being sucked up by millions of non documented individuals and by people who have never contributed a single dollar towards taxes. I watch a place that was at onetime safe to live in , but now I fear most areas in our country. I just cannot get into the fact that a visit to any other country is important.

Please save our wonderful country. How much does it cost the U.S. taxpayers to have our president visit Africa?

Why do they continue try to launch space craft from Florida?

Why not California, where weather is clear?

Looking forward with keen anticipation to watching this interview. As a proud Ghanaian American I really appreciated the focus the Ghana got on CNN Saturday and to cap it off with an AC360 special is simply phenomenal.

You do have a heartbeat of Africa. It was great when you come back to Africa again and again. If you go back eventually, it might change to improve enormous for both political and society issues. I have never been in South Africa except my first trip in North Africa recently.
I also have twittered you for medical tip…use an ice pack for your eye. The truth is I rarely twittering anyone, but I am not very good at it.
I look forward to seeing your interview with Obama especially the history of Cape Coast of Castle.

AC 360 is a really good news guy he must be in the field because I haven't seen him on the tube.

@ RLWellman ... Don't you think that, by this time, the Repubs would've nailed the President on his birth certificate if there really was anything to that looney story? They haven't, because there isn't. It's just that simple. Now, it's time for you to drop that nonsense before someone gets the urge to send the men in the white coats after you.

Mr. Cooper

I am very concern about you and the New Media Press, Punits ,Citizens etc continue to disrepect and discriminate by referring to Our President and Frist Lady as "Obama"

A racial practice in this Nation is to referr to African American by the name only " Obama, Barrack,Michelle " All prior coverage and Headlines as well address/referr to our Presidents and Frist Ladies as: President Regan, President Bush, The President, Mr Regan, Frist Lady Nancy Regan , Mrs Regan, Mrs Laura Bush, The President and Mrs. Regan. NOT ' OBAMA, President Obama and his wife,"

So why do you , all CNN coverage and all other in the Media and Press referr after your intro line disrepect and discriminate by referring or coveraging our elected President and Frist lady by saying " Obama" So the coverage of his trip to Africia the Slave Holding Castle show the All of you still devalue and disrepect and discriminate against African Americans with you tone and coverage.

So Mr. Cooper can you make a difference with the your company and you. Intresting the New York Times, the World Press doesn't seem to have this problem. Further we you all starting saying "Obama " some than persons on your show or station starting referring to our President as "Obama".
You can make a differance and take the led.
Thanks
Gwen

hi anderson,
great piece of journalistic work. im wondering when u had the opportunity to do this interview coz it seems the president had a really tight schedule in ghana from the look of events especially @ the castle in cape-coast. i watch the live footage from ghanas broadcast networks but did not see u anywhere near the president though.
again how has this experience @ the cape coast castle shape your perception of this tragic event in human history especially the african american experience and more especially considering your own tragic past and the events that took place to shape who you are presently.
what is your verdict coz i really value your opinions
looking forward to a response tonight @ 10pm eastern which will be 2am ghana time but will keep wake to watch nevertheless.
great job anderson.

Anderson,
Thank you so much for doing this interview. As an Afro American, I sincerly appreeciate it.

As always, Thanks Anderson for sharing your stories and these amazing pictures. Can't wait to see your interviews.....
Welcome Home!

Taunya – Hershey, PA

Anderson, you should get the Nobel Peace prize for Journalism. In that short video, you have a way of getting the questions answered. I especially enjoyed your account what was going on while you await the arrival of our President Barack Obama.

If Barack The Incompetent really had been born in Hawaii, wouldn't he gladly release his birth certificate? Of course he would.

But since he's a pathological liar, just like Bill Clinton, he only talks the game. Obama promised "transparency" and now hides behind secrecy.

His college transcripts are sealed. His birth certificate is sealed. If this is the best he has on the internet, it is clearly a forgery, without even a doctor's name and signature. But Useful Idiots don't care as they take us further down the path of destruction.

All I ask is be an inquisitive Journalist. Ask tough questions instead of softballs. The Press to date should be honored with the golden softball award for their treatment of President Obama. You are good, at times, but your polital views come out often. Try and hide them and be unbiased in your reporting. You can Do it?

Anderson:

Love you, love your work! Disappointed that you're calling your special with Obama "The First African American to Visit Africa." Hello! Every time President Obama does anything it's the first black (fill in the blank.) I think this title sets equality back 10 years. I'm sure you can think of dozens of more uplifting titles for this important interview. No need to point out the color of the President any more where ever he chooses to travel.

Good luck and I will watch the show tonight anyway!

Sincerely,

Patricia (Nevins)

great work AC..hope you had a good time in Africa...

Anderson,

Thank you for sharing your brain, mouth and gift for story telling with the world. I am grateful to CNN for allowing you to go after stories we want to hear in a truthful, kind way.

-Sandra
San Francisco Bay Area Mom, looking for a truthful world for her two teenagers.

Hi Anderson,
I see you had good time in Ghana and I can't wait to see the interview with the President.

I am appalled that there are references to this trip to Ghana as President Obama's first trip to Africa. Yes, he is and will be the 'first' African American ' president to do anything. So what is it with this trip? When he went to Cairo, Egypt earlier this year, where was that if not Africa?? Is there a new continent that I don't know about???? Maybe I am missing something. More important, since my visit to Ghana, I do not refer to Cape Coast as a castle but clearly instead a dungeon for those who had to pass through to never return to their homeland.

Hey Anderson

How was your stay in Ghana? Did you eat some of the local food like the yams, ebba, etc? I hope you did. Let me know how they taste. Good job on the interview and the coverage of the President's visit. I am certain that your documentary will give a lot of Americans an insight into the African rich culture, the aspiration of us Africans as well. We are hospitable, loving people... Please let the world know also that Ghana has set the tone for true democracy in Africa. Take care and keep up the good work.

Sidiki
Philadelphia

Anderson,
Great work with the interview.I can't wait to see it.
I am an immigrant from africa who lives in california.I am so proud looking at Obama going back to Africa & thinking about my children born here and one day they may become another Obama.God bless America.
Great Job CNN and Anderson on Postive and fair reporting on Africa

Thanks, conservative buffoons, for trying to bring up the birth certificate issue once again. If there were any credibility to this issue, it was resolved months ago. But keep trying! Maybe you could investigate Sarah Palin's fraudulent expense accounts, Ensign or Sanford's adultery, maybe check on Larry Craig's latest bathroom encounters, or even check on how Randy 'Duke' Cunningham likes the food in prison....

I wonder why CNN didn't consider interviewing Preesident Obama while he was in Russia or Italy? Why focus only on his trip to Africa? Just to highlight that he is biracial?

Much was accomplished in Russia: an agreement to cut nuclear arms by one third; an agreement with Russia which allows us to use thier fly zone to get supplies/equipment to our troops in Afghanistan, and a growing committment from Russia for future support in Afghanistan!

Where was THIS coverage? This is why I do not watch CNN or any of the cable "news" networks. I hope the OFA site will have a video of your interview because that is the only way I will watch it, much to my regret.

Good to know about your trip to Accra-Ghana.
I will be watching your program tonight to see the president"s dancing skills . Guess you enjoyed the trip.

I wonder to what degree the story of that castle was shared with the president. I was studying African music and dance with a master drummer from Ghana when I visited this same castle.

I was traveling with blacks and whites from the United States. We learned that usually it was not the Europeans who captured the slaves. More often slaves were sold to the Europeans after they were captured by warring tribes. This was surprising to many of us. It was very very difficult for the African Americans in our group. They had never for a moment considered that their own ancestors had a part in this horrible atrocity.

This post is not intended to minimize in any way the brutality the Europeans imparted on the people of Africa, merely to point out the many layers and complexities of this stain on our history.

An Anderson Cooper exclusive with Obama is little different than a Robert Gibbs interview with the president.

Is there some reason that President Obama does not grant such one on one access to more objective journalists?

Hi Anderson,
Looking forward to the interview tonight. It is great to see our President visiting so many places this early in his term. It certainly gives the impression that he is interested in refocusing the lens through which our country is viewed by the world. Did he talk about that at all in your discussion?

Hellooo Anderson!!
I am glad see you on your blog tonight! It is touched my heart when I read your message for me, I am really enjoy read yours, I love this! I like you already interview our president Obama in Ghana, it is so amazing to see you asked for question our pres. Obama. Thanks for give me update on Twitter/Facebook each day! I hope you will come home safety to NYC!! Good job to keep up your reporting from Ghana! Be safe and please come home.

With all the lies and half truths, how can anyone believe the administration and their media minions? Bush was bad enough, just look at what we have now. . . from the frying pan into the fire.

I was interested in what Obama said in the clip with this post – that the stimulus package was a 2 year deal. I don't think I had heard that stated that clearly before; Obama also hinted that if in 2 years there was still something needed....and he sort of trailed off it seemed. I'd like to know what sorts of options they are looking at for getting our economy back on track and those jobs to materialize that we need so much.

I'm looking forward to seeing your segments from Africa. I'm sure they will be informative and that the level of your questioning is just right. After all, you cannot give a President a harsh third degree nor does this one deserve That slave castle reminded me of Alex Haley's book – Roots. I wonder what is the percentage of African Americans who had an ancestor go through those gates.

Looking forward to tonight's show.

Ahh Fridiculous, I love it when the ignorance of American history reveals itself and I get to debate this....

"Come to think of it, if not for slavery blacks would likely not have the political power and wealth they enjoy in America. "

If it weren't for the enslavement and exploitation of African people, many Americans may not have reached such a place of power and wealth in the first place. We whites constructed a privileged culture at the expense of others. And by the continued lack of historical knowledge, many keep assuming that it is their right to keep such a "higher" and false held privilege. Viva the progress to American equality and multiculturalism!

Anderson,
I cannot wait to see this on Tv tonite. I am huge fan of yours and I cannot wait to see my Country, Ghana postively potrayed on National Tv. Go Ghana! Go Obama!

The president is making good excuses – but he does not really know what is going on. The Federal Reserve shareholders have bankrupted the world with debt that is not real. There is no debt in goods, services and labor. There is only a debt in the computers at the banks. Because we believe they are real, the debt is real and will kill us all. It is called greed. Just a few families control the debt. We don't owe this money to computers, we owe it to real people. The money we owe China is due to the same thing: greed wants more profit for a few individual bankers. These bankers need to be put on trial.

Hey Anderson, i donn think anything will be new in this interview with prez, as before it will be ur old style of sucking up to Obama and throwing softball questions !!

Can we expect the whole hour of 360 to be on this interview alone!? I hope not!! If so that will be one boring show...sorry! But I just have to be honest.

Cindy..Ga.

Hey, he's not a king with a castle. He is "elected." This is very disturbing.

Hi Anderson,

Your one of the lucky people that gets to meet and question President Obama. I'm looking forward to your piece tonight and the followups.

to those of you with so much hatred in your hearts, R L Wellman, ..., people including our children seem to learn better from good examples. Hopefully your actions speak better than your words. I am a caucasian American that couldn't be prouder to be an American and have President Obama represent the United States. Thank goodness history does teach some of us to learn from our mistakes. there will always be history, being human we will always make mistakes, and being "all God's" children maybe love one another. So far I think Obama has been has done alot of wonderful things as president, example for the United States of America & the little dance in Ghana, Donna,...maybe as the father of his children & husband of Michelle made them laugh a little... Listen, Love, Laugh, Live

Hi Anderson, first of all, how do you keep fit to travel all over the world?
And, covering President Obama is a journalist' s delight and you are a lucky one to be with the first American President whose ancestors came from Africa, the cradle of mankind. Now, there is an Obama in every country and community, who can also bring an extraordinary change we can believe in. I am sure you must have seen that in Ghana! Obama is one of the best things happened to humanity. Obama had talked about Black Planet before his inauguration, remember that? Did you talk to him about it, as opposed to Green Planet ? I would love to have some details there. Accra seems to have grown beyond Capitol Hill, as I find Capitol Hill grown beyond Taj Mahal these days. Waiting to watch your report in Canada. Bye.

Thank you for highlighting the good that has come out of Africa. While the horrible autocities that have taken place in Africa should not be overlooked, its important for the world to see how far Africa has come.

Anderson, I am a Canadian who has recently returned to Canada , after several years in Portugal.

I didn't know you well on CNN in Europe, but now that I am back in North America, I would just like to thank you for your fantastic skills in finding the truth under the politics.....
and for all the time you take away from any sort of personal life to follow the important stories, that interest us all......
we are all overwhelmed by Obama:

Canadians, Europeans, Africans......

Just a note to you to say Thank you, keep on keeping on ......

oops, mean't to say Julie instead of Donna that's what I get for pointing out names...looking forward to watching AC 360 – Thank You

Can't wait to watc this interview.

Those are some burly triceps Cooper's got goin on!

A passport and travel abroad should be mandatory for all Americans. Truly an ignorant lot we have here. Genuinely frustrated and dispirited.

Please don't damn your children, the next generation, the future of a once respectable country to your lack of education, vision and tolerance.

-Jim Grinner

I hope Ghanaian politicians will be transparent and accountable when making policies that affect the people. Previous leaders have often lavished themselves with resources that belong to the people with little regard to the needs of the country. I am very confident that the new government in Ghana will follow in Obama's footsteps to better protect, provide and fulfill the rights of its people.

I write to acknowledge your use of the term "enslaved" Africans. As a person of color I much point out to all when the correct term is used. It was very sad that Obama stated the story of African Americans started with the "castle". Africans came before Columbus to the land where native folks had been before he got lost!

With over 63 persons with PHD's in African -American Studies (proud to say folks who are not African-Americans also found these story powerful enough to pay for post grad. degrees) it seems to me that they would hire someone at the white house to help the president as an advisor. It is clear to be that he did not take much Black History in school.

He lost Puerto Rico where Jesse James did well! Head's up!

hi anderson !
i wish you could go go to see people in srilankan concentration camps. there are 20000 and more people died and its continuing

I enjoy your show! I'm looking forward to your interview with President Obama. I know you will asks the tough questions. Keep up the good work. I have a friend who is from Ghana. Please show the world these people, their wonderful culture and beautiful country.

Hey Anderson, I'm very much looking forward to your interview the next couple days as well as the hour special on Obama's visit to Africa! Oh and your eye doesn't look that bad!

Coop: NICE TRICEP!

For every one blog here against Obama, there is 4 or 5 against anyone Republican (Palin.) And you all have the nerve to call Republicans Haters. Maybe just maybe, it would be nice if you all were the ones to lead by example. You can not accuse someone of being a Hater, when you have just as much if not more Hate in your hearts. Obama said he wanted to bring everyone one together,if you believe in his message so much, then try to follow his message, and stop the nasty remarks about Palin, and The Republicans.

"fridiculous"...spoken like the true IGNORANT FOOL that you are!

President Obama was NOT born in Kenya...his father was. His ancestors were not slaves, so to suggest that if it wasn't for the Castle he "would just be poor villager somewhere in Africa" is just plain stupid.

Also in your own words, "Come to think of it, if not for slavery blacks would likely not have the political power and wealth they enjoy in America" and the United States would not have come this far seeing that it was built by the blood and sweat of blacks – slaves!

Go back to school and get an education!

This was such a beautiful interview! Anderson pouring out his need for justice at the president and he calming him down and balancing the situation by his voice and demeaner! Magnificant and authentic!

Anderson,

I can't even begin to fathom the plethora of comments that you recieve from posting these blogs! Incredible indeed. Your one of the most prominent figures in news, and im always delighted to gain insight on the various stories you cover. Keep inspiring!

Brandon.

Looking forward to your special. What an amazing historic trip!

AND very nice looking arm!

Well its a gritty irony that everyone talks about racism and such and we see the first black president returning to Africa visiting its dark past. Mr. Obama is a standout and a very human being.

Akua Abrefi Brenya....I'm not sure where you got your information that Ghanaians don't appreciate the fact that President Obama chose Ghana. I'm Ghanaian, and everything I read, and everyone I spoke to back home indicated that they were very proud and excited about the Presidents choice and (upcoming) visit. It was all they talked about.

Whatever the Presidents purpose was for going to Ghana, you can't go to a country without seeing some sights. I'm glad he picked Elmina Castle to visit. Of course I can only hope that he'll go back someday and see more of our great country.

Anderson, I love your show and I'm looking forward to watching it tonight. It's almost time...must go now. Ciao!

What an experience, Anderson!

Well done Anderson!

Fradiculous called it right. I doubt many of the descendants of those enslaved (by other blacks actually) would like to trade places with descendants of those who didn't get brought here.

Anderson, I appreciate the work that you do and the various issues that you cover. However, the title of your coverage of President Obama in Africa is misleading. This actually is not his first trip to the continent. His trip to the Ancient landmarks in Egypt & his speech in Cairo would be classified as his first. This place is in Northern Africa, although some do not recognize that fact. The title of your piece promulgates the misconception that Africa and Egypt are two different places. This gaff perpetuates the ideology of seperating the Motherland from the rich heritage and historical importance of the place known as Egypt. In turn this diminishes the relevancy of his election as the so-to-speak 1st African President in America.

tough love .. sums up the trip... After reading 'Dead Aid" by Dambisa Moyo and having listened to Obama's speech, i am more than convinved that the solution to Africa's Woes lie in the hands of Africans.. i want more of Moyo and less of Bono.... DEnough of Hollywood stars having empty sympathy on Africans..

Dr. Joseph Adegboyega.
This is not a fresh comment but a request for correction. Please help to correct some "typos" in my comments by replacing it with the following :
"Hi Mr. Anderson Cooper,
I know that you are enjoying yourself in Ghana. Ghana is a safe country to visit.
Tell President Obama that I don’t fault him for not visiting Nigeria. I would not visit Nigeria myself if not for the people I left behind, when I moved my family out in 1988. Nigeria is not safe for the its people and it is worse for visitors.
I was born in Nigeria, though I don’t refer to myself as a Nigerian. This is because I hate the fact that Nigeria – a country rich in natural wealth – has been saddled with poor and corrupt governance since its independence. The corruption is keeping investments and tourism away and this at the expense of its poor people.
Maybe one day God will clean Nigeria of its corrupt government."

When you spoke of corruption in Ghana, and mentioned Kenya, I recalled writing the paper the year Kenya would recieve DFI – to bolster the economy . . . And I worried about corruption. Nepotism. Etc. Private funds come with no strings attached – no promise to form a basic and sound social system. Other monies may include mandates to ensure a working social system supplying food to all – is generally corrupted as well.

Speaking to the problem is one's only hope for a more sound and civil society. Exploitation may make the world go round, as the money mover societies thrive the longest, however, with constraints and limits to greed.

Slave dealing still exists. I am beyond tired of having people around that can't be trusted around children, for instance. Education and legal and social help helps greatly.

Wow Anderson,

I am surprised those were the only images you saw in Ghana. I am waiting for the day that western media will show the nice part of Africa instead of the bad. I know there are so many beautiful and wonderful places in Africa specifically Ghana that could have been displayed.

I am watching the interview and the walk, its a nice experience and good for him to be able to see first hand what transpired then.
Guess through that they will be able to appreciate their heritage and give back to Africa a hand to get where the west is at.

Kudos to CNN for absolutely outstanding coverage of Obama's Africa trip. NO OTHER NETWORK carried the trip from the time he landed in Ghana to the moment he left. Thank you from an African American who was born on the continent. I now live in the US but return to Ghana every chance I get. Anderson has shared with the world what many of us have know for years: Africa is TRULY going to change the world!

I'm a Ghanaian too and very proud of the President for this visit. Akua Abrefi Brenya, Ghanaians are really appreciative and very honored to have received President Obama and his family. This visit will never be forgotten. A real great honor to our country.

Anderson, I'm a huge fan and very happy that you got to experience Ghana at least for a moment. Sorry about the insect bite...:)! You look better so I know it's not hurting as much.

Keep up the good work.

Anderson: I'm ecstatic about President Obama taking the trip to Ghana. Although focusing on the fact that the country has a democratic government, it was important for the US in particular & the world in general to be reminded of the most horrible crimes perpetrated against a race of people (i.e. Africans) - Today, too many African Americans still suffer from the vestiges of slavery - I'm thinking of reconnecting w/an African & African-American group that focused on the African Holocaust - we can certainly take a page from our Jewish brothers & sisters - knowing our history - the slave experience - and all of its brutality is critical to our healing as a race - then and only then will we be able to advance our masses economically and educationally - shoving slavery in America can no longer be acceptable - I look forward to watching your story - you're a terrific reporter - very thorough and insightful and you provide balance

Anderson,
Your portrayal of Ghanaian in the Images you selectively showed continued the very stereotype the western media had used for too long to show Africa as a dark continent.
You are wrong. What happened to the corporate world in Ghana with all the best of life .what about the picture of students in higher institution.
what about the lush and wealthy neighborhood .
Where is the picture of the industrial complexes, first class banking system some of them owned and managed by Nigerian consortium.
Until this pattern changes, we would always see this type of coverage for what it is. Western media long history of intellectual dishonesty on everything Africa.

I can't find the site for Anderson's tweets from Ghana. If something going to be mentioned on air then please make it transparent or provide a search possibility. There is no such search available that I could find either. Thanks

07/13/09
7:30PM PST

Anderson, I love your show. You go to interesting places. Thank you
for your special with the President. Why were you wearing a suit at
the Castle. The President looked more comfortable than you did, but
you looked nice. Thanks again!

Anderson,
I hope this visit will Africa(Ghana) a better image in the world. I was happy to see Obama in Ghana. He has shown to the globe how far GHANA has gone in Democratic governace. God BLESS US and GHANA.

Good walk with the President Obama in Accra. And your interview was a simple, mediocre one, nothing spectacular. Still good enough to highlight Ghana in Africa. I would done a better job!

Monday, July 13, 2009@10:36pmEDT

Dear Anderson Cooper,

Tonight's aired interview with President Obama was most interesting. I ask that you and other CNN anchor/reporters, reporting on the President's visit to Ghana, give the correct name for the Castle, located at Cape Coast, The correct name is ELMINA CASTLE. I have visited this castle on several occasions....each time experiencing deep emotion. I hold the distinct honor of being the first African-American to earn the Ph.D degree in African Studies from the University of Ghana, at LEGON. I am so glad that you had the opportunity to visit Ghana, and Elmina Castle.

Anderson. a question for you?. What was your experience and reaction when you entered the castle and was told of what the slaves have been through in that dudgeon before they were shipped off to some unknown country to experience some more atrocities by the hands of some cruel human beings.
As for me,,just looking at that castle makes me sad .

Hey Anderson Great Piece
I'm a Black man in American that has been going to Ghana since 1993. Trying to get funding for projects to help develop Ghana is very difficult. Yet so much money is allocated for projects in Ghana and other African Countries. I would Like to know from President Obama, how can minority firms in America get funding for projects in Africa.
Funding usually goes to white companies and organizations.

I very happy President Obama and his family traveled to Ghana.

This brings back so many memories of my visits to both castles in Elmina and Cape Coast. The visits evoked raw emotion particularly at the realization that I stand on the shoulders of ancestors who endured so much... They walked through the "Door of No Return"....I was fortunate enough to walk back through that door.

Thanks Anderson for showing this to the world. My hope is that Africans of the Diaspora honor the ancestors and live their best lives...they suffered, they died, to make life better for us. May we never, ever forget.

I pour libation to the ancestors

LOL...Once again, the 'bottom line' prevails.

It never ceases to amaze me when western camera crews go to 'Africa' how they land at the airports, drive through cities, past the business districts, plush hotels, middle class neighborhoods, golf courses, impressive sports area's etc...and somehow don't turn on their camera's until they get to the slums....lol.

Ahh, but who can blame them–nobody wants to see everyday, ordinary 'buppies' having drinks at a plush bar after work, or their drivers picking up their kids from school in a Range Rover and back to a 5 bedroom 2 car garage home, or college kids partying after exams or twenty somethings taking salsa classes on Tuesday and Fridays. Naw, thats not good TV...no tear jerking there.

Who can blame them right. BTW, I happen to be second generation ghanaian...have been back thrice, so have my siblings and cousins born in the US and countless 'auntie' and 'uncles'. I have NEVER known anyone to have been bitten by an 'eye swelling' spider. What are the chances.....lol...I swear...you gotta love it.

Hey Anderson, Bravo!
I thought your interview with the president in Ghana was very fascinating and emotional! I spent Ten years living in Ghana as a Liberian refugee, and my families are still living there as refugees. Everybody has been caught in the unbelievable excitement of having the first African-American president landing on this West African coast from where human beings were caught, flogged, chained and shipped to the Americas to labor on plantations!
Well done, Anderson Cooper!

@Fridiculous. President Obama's father was not a descendant of African slaves. He came to the U.S on his own terms and then again , not every African is some poor person stuck in a miserable village. You need to educate yourself some more !

I have visited Ghana and been to Elmina Castle. Both proved to be a life-changing experience for me. Walking through the "castle" was most sobering. Seeing it on TV does not give one the full sense of the abomination done to human beings.
Ghana is a beautiful country with the friendliest and most hospitable people I have ever met. They have respect for self, family, neighbor, and nature. They do not waste, and they appreciate all that they have. I saw an abundance of talent and humbleness. We could learn so much from Ghana.
Tonight's interview was a teaser. I'm looking forward to the hour-long show. Thanks for bringing Ghana to our homes.

See,

The best person to interview @ Cape coast is Michele Obama. The feeling of a "cut of" or "unaware part of you" you come in terms with in Cape coast is not the same for someone with direct African relatives like Barack Obama as compared to Michelle Obama.

I come from Ghana and my wife is from St Louis, MO. I was at the Castle so many times and i watch my wife's reaction and lifestyle after i took her there.

Congratulations, Anderson! Outstanding interview that meant very much to me. I'll be studying at Kokrobitey Institute starting July 29, thanks to grant from Gilder Lehrman Foundation. There'll be ten American teachers, ten Brit's, and ten Ghanaian educators. CNN is paving our way whereby we will also tour the same slave fortress. You've made it all even more meaningful for all of us!

Hello Anderson,
Proud of your coverage of Ghana and the interview with the president. With regards to your question about whether or not the US should talk about the issue of slavery, I think the president was quite diplomatic in his approach. However, I think this is an important historical issue that cannot be played down in any socio-economic-politico discussions in the US, particularly if we want to understand the role of black people in this country. The United States should educate the youth about such crimes against humanity of which the United States has been part thereof. This will help the next generation of Americans to approach world issues from different perspective. If the US is able to lead the fight for Jews why can't the US lead the fight for Africans. If all educated Americans learn about the Holocaust, why not all educated Americans learn about the continent of Africa who blood helped shaped this great nation. Why is the Africa situation seen different from other world developments? I am not surprise that at the Smithsonian museum in Washington DC, the Africa museum is just an exhibit of artifacts. Is it any wonder when many Americans even the so-called educated with college degree think Africa is a country....Did I say that? Well, former President Bush referred to the continent as the nation/country of Africa. I hope the education goes down in the curriculum.

Thank you

It reminds me of when Clinton visited. I am hapy you are showing the world of the other side of slave trade. It would have been great if you can post some pic of some of the urban areas as well for the worl to know that there is a part of Ghana that is developed as well

My expectation of this interview was to talk more about the african states and not the issues in the stated....for now since the president lives there and he can answer all these questions when he comes back to the white house...... i think your main focus shoul d have been on issues pertaining to africa and kind of support which the president has already sent a strong message to them and how this can be implemented........i know africa is for africans but since we're aware that africa helped to make USA and some of the developing countries what they are the support and more support and more pictures and the activities, for example the drumming, the dancing, and the great hospitality apart from you getting bitten on the eye please do show the details of the main speech in accra and other important things.

Thanks for the pictures from Cape Coast. The castle housed the post office when I was growing up near it. There is so much history around the coast of Ghana and I always wondered why no one took good care of these places. I'm glad to see all the attention the place is getting now. It was interesting to hear Donna Brazile's remark about the smell in the dungeons. It's worse in Elmina castle. I'm glad they went to Cape Coast instead because I think it would have been more difficult, especially for the girls at Elmina.

Hi Anderson,
Thanks for doing a great job constantly and consistently.
On President Obama's birth cirtificate I think the man published it some time ago and it clearly stated that he was born in Hawai to his parents. To me that was clearly legitmate enough. So what's the problem ?
Please lets allow the man to continue to do the great job he and his team are doing. It will be too much to expect him to undo what was done in more than 8 years in just over 6 months of being in office. Common! the man has not even spent 7 months in office. Please!!

Anderson! you and the President are doing a good job respectively. Pls continue. Could you post the entire interview online so that people who couldnt watch on TV can see it here.
Well done broda!

It will be enlightening for most Americans who haven't been to Africa for journalists not to focus only on the common people, but use that oportunity to showcase middle class folks who also live decently.
I hope it's not intentional.

Anderson,

A good story on Obamas trip to Ghana,but a failure of you not to mention what countries and groups were and are still responsible for black enslavement. Most history books clearly indicate that the Arabs in africa were and still practice enslaving Black africans. The arabs in sudan today are part of that practice as were the the arabs that captured blacks for centuries including those that sent blacks to the americas.
That is the story American blacks need to hear and understand. It was the white Europeans and American slaveholders that bought and shipped the slaves the arabs captured and provided them.

Yo AC!
Just saw you on tv. I"m trying to find out what bug bit you that caused your eyes to swell shut before your interview with the President. Besides that, I think you have an awesome job AC. How was your experience being in Africa?

JT

I saw your interview w/President Obama while visiting Ghana, and you came across as being confrontational (e.g., isn't that contradictory concerning an earlier remark you made etc.), concerning one of our many domestic issues. You also did this with the Mayor of New Orleans, when you exclaimed, "we're going to be watching you etc."

I'm not so certain that's your place, but instead report the news as it develops in lieu of manufactuering a news story.

Should you disagree with someone you are interviewing, and you are in possession of the facts, then that's another matter altogether. I believe in that instance, you are obligated to arrive at the truth rather than inuendo or an untruth, which is a disservice to your viewers.

I have been to Cape Coast Castle numerous times. I have been a part of archaeological excavations in several spots in Ghana. Walking through Cape Coast Castle is truly a moving experience.

I am a big fan of yours Anderson and thanks for the wonderful coverage I was looking foward to seeing more coverage of beautiful Accra. Great

Ya really couldn't detect the buggy bite! Cute as ever...and sharing "grey hair" jokes with the Prez...now who else could do that? You do share a certain comraderie! Good on ya.

Ghana...!, Ghana !!, Ghana... !!!, oh Ghana my motherland. !!
The Leader of the Struggle for Black Freedom
The Beacon of Light on the Hill to Guide the lost to their Destination.

Although Great Sons and Daughters have come from your womb
You suffered terrible growing pains after You outsmarted
And outmanouvered your oppressors the British Imperialists away from your shores.

But Systematically and masterfully got rid of the wayward
children and the greedy thugs who dished out pain to others

You got rid of those who masqueraded as Leaders
And almost ruined you.

And today you have proven that the Light on the Hill can never be
Hidden and can Never be extinguished.
Your resilience is as tough as mother Africa.

Western ignoramuses and the uneducated in the World may snicker and make jokes at your expense
But after shedding your destructive burdens of days gone by
Forward you would march to achieve the unparalleled Glories of the Ghana, Mali and Songhai Empires of Centuries gone by.

I Salute You! I Congratulate You! Forward Ever, Backward Never!

Good Evening Mr. Cooper,

I am amongst the people who watch your show with a lot of interest. Lately I have been watching CNN alot more because of Mr. Jacksons sudden death. The past few weeks I have absorved that our country is discrimenating differant race groups through news. I always thought we all stand united and look at each other as humans first, rather than African American or Mexican or who ever. Don't you think we are sending a wrong message unintenssionally.

Thank you
Mehvish Khan

I think the president(OBAMA) visit to my country (Ghana) should rekendle the spirit of our African leaders not to fight for power but fight poverty,diseases,farming and above all,corrucption.

Mama Africa is not poor but some of its leaders have painted it so by their act of missmanagement.

Mr President, "Akwaba" .Meaning,wellcome back

Why is it that anytime a coverage is done in Ghana you only show the very bad or negative images. You need to show the outside world the beautiful hotels you slept in or at least some of the nice structures Ghana have. This will at least entice foreigners to visit or plan to invest in Ghana and not only to decide to visit Ghana expecting bug bites. I say this because almost any news being telecasted in the US always have tall sky scrapers in the background to the extent that people who have never being to America percieve the US as not having any Ghettos. Please do well to portray some good images about Ghana or Africa just as you all do when showing holiday destinations in the Caribeans.

I wish you shown pictures of some of the nice places in Ghana and not just pictures which show people carrying items on their heads and look so distressed. Ghana has some really beautiful places and it would have been nice for others to see that side of the country

Good job done Anderson......... By far you are the best journalist ever lived. just watched the first quarter of your interview with pres. Obama's visit to Ghana and other world issues. can't wait for the second quarter tomorrow.
i won't miss it for nothing Anderson.
C' Ya
Desmond
Bronx, NY

Anderson why do you keep on showing the fishing boat and market around the castle. Can't you show some of the interesting places in Accra or even there in Cape Coast. You surly know about how most Americans react to pictures like that. PLEASE AND PLEASE AGAIN IT WONT CAUSE YOU ANY HARM TO SHOW SOME INTERESTING PICTURES THAT WILL MAKE GHANA VERY ATTRACTIVE.

am from ghana, and i was happy cnn was covering the president's trip..because they always report the truth...for a town as important as cape coast i'm surprised everything and its infrastructure remain the same...this is a town well known for its histroy and some of the best high schools in africa are located there..but its sad things are still they same..this is a sad part of the country's histroy but we are grateful the stories are being told and our african-americans brothers and sisters will forgive our african ancestors who took part of the slave trade..my friends..we sometimes forget native africans are a strong part of the in-justice and we must forgive and make peace and help our brothers understand their background and not quite to judge them...as most africans are of african-americans in this country

Hey AC,
Glad you are back..i bet it was a long flight!
Im a Kenyan Lady with a little bit concern/question..

Why is it that when you guys,meaning Media go to Africa you only choose to show the bad(poor) side of Africa,you never ever show people the developed part of Africa,am not saying that you should not tell the world about people in slams,also tell them about the great sides of Africa.

That was a great coverage though!

This was a very disappointing coverage especially since it was given such hype in advance. I was looking forward to this interview having visited the Slave Castles myself. I am white and found the experience very moving. What I expected was some significant comments on the history of the castle and slavery with good footage and context. Instead I got snipets of this and that. The interview itself was disjointed and superficial. Not good. I expected better.

If i ever have the opportunity to ask the president(OBAMA) a question,it will be,what keeps you going in life.

By the way how was the "KENKEY" you eat back in my country,Ghana.

Hi Anderson,

- Have just seen seen the first part of your nterview with Pres Obama ....enjoyed it and am looking forward to seeing the rest of the interview.

I haven't been to West Africa but like Gail, I have visited some of the buildings that housed slaves in East Africa , for example Fort Jesus in Mombasa, Kenya.
It was an unforgettable and chilling experience..

I lived in Ghana for two years 1963-65 as a Peace Corps teacher. Ghana is a beautiful place and the people are so friendly. Would like to see more Ghanaian people and culture rather than the usual political comments. Very pleased with President Obama and his family, in Ghana and back in the USA. Send Sanjay Gupta to Ghana and let him talk to Ghanaians about their daily lives. Some tribal drumming and dancing would be good also.

Hi Anderson,
I missed most of your report tonight, but I will be on time for it from now it....it is so interesting to hear about the Castle and Ghana, sad though it may be.....the slave trade seems like such a far away thing and oh so long ago, but reports shows that it still happens in our time.
Please give that email address again as I would like to follow this story.Thx for the insights. Dee

Re: Special on Haiti this evening: Anderson you must have Canada's Governor General – Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaelle Jean on for an interview. She was born in Port au Prince, Haiti and would be most informative and she is a very charismatic and compelling speaker.

(For 18 years, Michaëlle Jean enjoyed a brilliant career as a journalist and anchor of information programs. She joined Radio-Canada in 1988, working successively as a reporter and host on news and public affairs programs.)

I am a patriot and I support President Obama just as much as you all supported President Bush.

If President Obama doesn't have anything to hide, then why did he seal his past? Why has he spent $920,000.00 dollars of campaign funds to do so?

You guys need to read what is being passed. You think just because it was wrote by a Democrat that is is okay. You believe the Government will take care of you. I don't think you really know how the Government is going to take care of all of us.

Talk about hatred. This is still a free country. There is still freedom of speech. However, there is legislation being passed right now to take away the freedom part and you guys approve of it because it was wrote by Democrats.

If anything is wrote by the Government, be it Democrat, Republican, or Independent, it needs read before it is signed.

Remember, the Government is supposed to be our representatives, not our big brother. They do what they want, not what we want.

You think I'm silly for what I believe. I think anyone who signs anything without reading it first, is STUPID.

Great interview..I think it will take people like you to 'open up Africa' Ghana has beautiful places people can stay..including five star hotels! Great food to eat. Interesting places to visit. World class intellectuals to hang out with. Showing the positive and nice side is as important if not more important than the negative side.
It is time to help Ghana in that manner..it goes a long way to uplift a country.
Thanks

To Katherine, whether you visit Africa or not will not kmake a difference in our live. I am an African, Ghanaian and a proud one. I think you must broaden your horizon.

Hello Anderson,

What a wonderful and delightful piece on the interview with President Obama as you all walked through the Cape Coast Castle.

It have been years since I read "Roots". I don't remember reading about Cape Coast Castle. Now when I read "Roots" again, it will bring Cape Coast Castle to life.

And I think your eye look just fine. "Them There Eyes!"

I can hardly wait to see this peice of history

anderson,
Great trip but a trip to Ghana is not a trip to Africa but a part of Africa. Better pictures of life in Ghana could have been shown to balance your report, not just those rural and undeveloped areas. Did you not see the beautiful buildings and infrastructure there and the good schools and average families who even live better than some in the U S A? Come on men, Be FAIR!

anderson,

great interview with obama. i think people need to reframe the speed of recovery and the approach to wealth/success. people can get wealthier by reducing costs, and expenditures, not just by increasing revenues and income.

do you feel obama is or feels different to when you first interviewed him as president-elect, than now that he has been in those shoes for a little while. has he changed, and in what way?

Mr. Anderson Cooper,

First of all I think you are great at your job; I love your show!. Second, it sounds like quite an amazing journey you endured in Africa. I can only imagine so many questions that you would've liked to ask President Obama. I am looking forward to watching your segment!

now this is newsworthy and well thought out. thanks cnn!

fridiculous, Obama is not a descendent of slaves. please review your facts before spouting your nonsense. His father was from kenya, and his mother was white.

Do you honestly expect me or anyone else with a brain to believe the praising posts made here are by actual non CNN supported citizens? Give me a break.

Will CNN every get back to being a news agency or can we just expect more of the same? Loops of Anderson Cooper and Larry King. What happened to this agency?

Anderson, President Barack Obama disappointed me
because he broke so many of his campaign promises.
President Obama promised that he will bail out poor
Americans, not the rich ones. He should have not
bailed out the rich people throughout America.
The President is also taking everything away from
the poor and giving it all to the rich. He favors the
rich, not the poor. I dislike what he currently does
in the Oval office at the White House.

Thanks! Great to hear of your experience with President Obama and also the other interesting people you talked to and places you went.
Nice change...

Hi Anderson,
I am impressed that CNN had to wait until the first black president visit Africa for you to highlight that there is slavery happening in Hattie. I guess it had to take a black president being in power for six months for you all to notice. I have seen wycliff and many others talk about the situation and no one paid any attention. I guess you all are implying thats were the president should have visited and focus his attention. Maybe when he visit Hatti you all can highlight all the poor and suffering people in America.

I agree with GREG totally, there are far more important things to deal with in the USA than the trip to Africa. Outside looking in, I have noticed that BO is an eloquent speaker and is certainly gifted, however, actual actions have been very few. All I heard and read was about how to dig up past wrongdoing of Bush adminstration and the CIA. What good does it do to the country? They were in a war and tried to prevent more terrorists attacking the USA. They were not in a party. If you don't agree, just don't do it in your adminstration. It does seems BO like to be in constant spotlight.

you don't have to post my comment, that's just how I feel. I do like anerserson 360 program.

I had the chance of experiencing the Cape Coast Castle myself because i attended Adisadel College which is one of the best secondary/high schools in Ghana and its located in Cape Coast. It was life changing experience and i have learned alot and appreciated life much better.
Ghana is a very beautiful and joyful country and i urge you all to pay a visit to Ghana.
Being from Ghana, I know the problems that we face in our country and in Africa as a whole and I was very pleased with Obamas speech because he touched all the right points on the problems that we face there. Well Done OBAMA

Anderson and Obama, two modern greats. The Coops is THE man!

Anderson, the next time you get to interview the US president, tell him we do not appreciate people giving us lecture while they are at neighbor house.The best thing Obama would have done is to Kenya and tell us our woes right in our face.

muiruri, kenya

Wow,

What an incredible experience! I'm sure you and Obama could just feel the weight of the oppression emanating from those castle walls! I am so thankful to have a president like this who shows so much compassion and caring. It's like he knows how much we have suffered and he is doing his best to make things right. Someday we will all be truly equal and Obama with his eloquent orations will show us the path. Greed, war, and unfairness will be a thing of the past. Obama will take care of us...we have paid the price long enough! With Climate Change, Health Care, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Economy, and Wall Street to so carelessly dumped into his lap, I'm so glad our President finds the time to spend on his two little ones and his beautiful wife.

Great job in the interview and thank you for not making him answer dumb questions that would be a waste of his time. Lets keep the focus on the transgressions of the former administration where it belongs and let Obama focus on being our best ambassador to the world.

I just wish Air Force One was somehow solar or windmill-powered so we could show the world our technological prowess and how we can wean ourselves off of those awful fossil fuels coming from foreign lands. I bet Obama is making sure someone is inventing it as we speak.

Oh, and I love your muscles as well.

Thank you for bringing up the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy with President Obama and reminding him of the changes he promised. You are an amazing reporter, keep up the great work!

Dear Anderson,
I have been a fan of yours since 9/11 as i consider that you are the only news reporter who actually reports the good as well as the bad. but all kudos aside, i would like to bring to your attention – History. Tonight you visited the slave chambers in West Africa. The Roman Empire enslaved millions and fed them to the lions. Even going back further, the Egyptians were no better! My Grandfather came to the US as a virtual slave. An Italo american who's only demand of the family was to never cross the American laws and never appear on the front cover of the Boston Globe. For if you did, you were cut out of the will. My grandfather slaved and learned two languages and was part of the history of America. Italo Americans were treated like dirt-p second class citizens in this country when they initially immigrated. Indeed the phrase WOP is from Ellis Island where they could care less who you were – you were "without official papers" hence WOP. So while i empahthize with African Americans, remember that they also built this country and should be proud part of it and proud of their efforts like all immigrants. They were brought here, perhaps against their will, but they have become a core of America. They are Americans. So let's let go of the past. Remember, if you were a Roman Slave, you were fed to the lions and there isn't much future in that time. We are in new times. We need to be in present time and tackle what obstacles face us now as a nation- united, white, black brown and yellow. That is what is means to be an American.. I voted for President Obama and i need to know that he will not hobby horse any one skin color and get on with it. I am counting on him.
sincerely – leslie los angeles

Enough on Obama! Everyone knows he is bi-racial and has his african roots.

As unemployed americans that are now one step close to loosing everything, we need to hear what congress wants to do to improve this economy and create more jobs.
Obama needs to return and focus on getting something done to improve
the healthcare system.
He needs to help the very people that elected him and stop going to
make friends in other countries.
Guess he did not want to be in Washington D.C. while the confirmation
hearings were going on.
Anderson, when will you travel to Cuba and report on how that
country is fairing now that Fidel Castro is not in command?
I understand that his younger brother Raul Castro is more of a tirant
than Fidel Castro ever was!!!

ANDESON,
GHANA IS THE NUMBER ONE COUNTRY IN THE WORLD TODAY, I BET U.

Mr. Cooper, Thanks for all your hard work. One of the last real journalists! Please ignore the conspiracy theorist wackos posting here.

I am surprised that someone is talking about Darfuor and Congo Please tell me who will like to be fired upon, yes everybody wants to be in a place he or she will not be scared or insulted at. Yes his people are from Kenya but if the situation is nothing he can be proud of then he has to be where he can see the people are not so tensed. Why cannot someone talk of Nigeria when the world or people wakeup everyday to hear news about Ogonu or people attacking their own country and its recources. We as ghanaians should be proud that atlastwe have know how to compromise.

I watched Your interview with the President last night and I could not be happier as Ghanaian. Thanks Anderson.

Ah yes, Anderson Cooper, the same guy who can'r think for himself, and hangs on every word that comes out of Obama's mouth. Hey Anderson how about asking some tough questions, like why hasn't the president kept his campaign promises.

Anderson: Lets see if Obama and the liberals can point out a country ruled by blacks thats doing well! The communists pushed out white rule in africa; and now those countries are trajic. Announce to the American public what this black president is doing to drag down this country. You owe it to the public as an journalist of the truth. How can CNN not report on issues about ACORN, SEIU and the 32 czars appointed by Obama who have no oversite by the 3 branches of government. How can 95% of taxpayers pay no taxes and take from the 5% of rich whites, and sustain this country. Dude your gonna run out of rich white people, maybe we'll get lots of low cost illegal immigrants to pay up Eh!

Anderson,
I am happy that CNN Covered Ghana and it's historical Castle. Americans and Black People need to know how it all started and understand that, afterall, there is Hope for the furture for Africa.
Love you all and God Bless America

To Quote a fool ... "Like I asked before, is President Obama trying to cover up os destroy his original birth certificate? It’s always a wonder when he has spent so much money covering up his past" .... RL Wellman

This right-wing extremist has a one track mind if he has one at all.
It is sad to see a person so dedicated to tearing down what will become known as the man who erased our memory of the worst President and Vice-President this country has ever been saddled with. And, to think that I was once a registered Conservative and the Vice-Chair of my Party in my home town. The right-wing is doing their best to flush my former Party down the toilet of history. SAD!

Anderson,

I remember you on Channel One back in the day and knew you would be great. Everytime I see a interview with you it shows how professional you are. Keep up the good reports...

Hi Anderson:
welcome back!
It looks like you had an amazing trip. The photos are incredible.
I enjoyed the first part of your interview with the President last night, and am looking forward to more tonight.
I hope your eye is better now as well. Take care.

Racism agains Blacks began with European domination and slavery. If there were no economic benidfit for slavery ( tobacco, cotton and sugar cane plantations) there would not have been slavery and ther would be no need for the stereotypes, psuedo-science alleging Black inferiority and pacification(destroying their land ,culture and self-concept) of people of color .
In some parts of Africa during colonial rule African with lighter -skin were preferred by whites and in some cases were given bleaching cremes to lighten their skin in order to obtain employment. As a result, in Africa and many former colonies like India and Asia peope are still spending millions to bleach their skin since lighter skin is associated with higher status/value. The effect of racism/colonialism has damaged the self-esteem of many people of color. Imperialism sought not only to contro the material wealth but the mind as well.

To Michelle Lymen. What a silly idea that the 25-40 millions Africans who were tortured ,kidnapped, raped and murdered for centuries paid the price for Black Americans to live as we do today.
Why should we be grateful when whites did not have to pay such a price. We Black American live as we do today because we fout the racism, lynchings, being burned alive in public, civil rights etc for hundreds of years!!!
There are many middle class and properous Africans living in Africa.
The media only shows one side. It is like people in foreign countries learning about whte Americans by watching Jerry Springer (which is aired internationally).

Where else would you interview King Obama but in a castle?

Dear Mr. Anderson

This morning, as every morning, I watch CNN. There was a report on slavery worldwide.

Haiti – the commentator placed a 5 gallon containter full of water on his head and carried it up the hill – he wanted to see what this experience felt like. This activity is expected of children and to be done up to 5 times a day. The reporter added that a child was not hugged until she was 14 years old. How is this possible?

Whenever I see such reports, I become enraged. A member of an eight children family, with limited resources, with years of pychotherapy and "positive thinking" did not erase or dilute the feeling of worthlessness, never having enough, never being goog enough, struggling all the time. Yes, you go through life, but settle for crumbs.

If individuals who cannot afford having children can be educated in birth control, perhaps, maybe perhaps, we would not have so many chldren throught the world suffering.

How can I help?

Rita Genovese
610-449-7853

Judith,

I understand your anger from some of these post but there's no need for reverse racism. Parts of this country WERE constructed under the blood, sweat, and tears of Africans. That being said; plenty of Irish, Chinese, German, Italian, English, French, and many other walks of life played pretty big roles as well.

I look forward to the interview. Anderson I couldn't help to notice that about 80% of the comments are from females. What's it like to be a rock star journalist ?

Alpha Charlie 360 I cannot blv u were in and out of my own accra without me knowing. ac360 airs 2am my time and i am mostly late for work in the a.m! gosh, u shd have announced your arrival! I would have shown u a little something something. There is loads to see so do come back! I love your show. And i will make sure the spiders dont get to you. Keep up the good work! Don't u just love ghana????
God's own country!

wow i heard the same thing but i thought it was stupid
you idiot i dont think hes those kids father but he could be no one knows yet
he needs to take a dna test and stuff before we can accuse him of anything like that!
i love you anderson and i think you would make a great father!

Just curious do you plan to do a segment on Marwa Sherbini?
the lady that got murdered in cold blood in Germany in front of a court by the defendant for wearing a head scarf.

why are people even talking about michael jackson?! this article has nothing to do with him but i highly doubt if hes the father
i think its just a rumor or something so chill peeps

Anderson – the only places you saw in Ghana were the poor places? I will probably take pictures of the poor place in Ameirca and make a documentary on it too.

Enough about this birth certificate already. If RL Wellman had a brain he would know that the laws of the land do not permit anyone to hold the office of president unless they are American citizens. The Supreme Court, the Senate etc etc would not allow that unless of course the laws are changed. That being said, I suggest RL Wellman crawls into a hole so we never hear from him or from others that perpetuate this fantasy story.