The Obama family has arrived in Ghana, they’ll spend the nearest 24 hours visiting Accra and the Cape Coast. Obama print dresses, t-shirts, key rings and all kinds of paraphernalia have been doing a roaring trade. Many Ghanaians won’t actually get to see the President and his family since security is fairly tight, but the nation is excited to be the first sub-Saharan African country to have being hosting a visit.

The actuality that this President has roots in Africa makes it all the more exciting. Naturally the Kenyans would have liked to be the first to host a visit by Obama as President, but the violence that came after their elections last year made Ghana the more politically attractive option. Oh, and Ghana has oil as well.

Many American visitors to Ghana come to pay their respect to the millions of slaves who were shipped from Ghana’s coastal forts. The Obama’s are no exception and they will visit Cape Coast Castle. The Cape Coast Castle is a World Heritage site, it played a prominent role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Daily guided tours, which the Obama’s will no doubt be taking, include the slave dungeons, Palaver hall, as well as the grave of an English Governor.

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You have seven days left to cast your vote for Table Mountain in the New 7 Wonders of Nature campaign. Currently sitting at number 7 in its category, the majestic icon needs your votes to boost its assertion before Tuesday July 7, when voting closes.

Table Mountain soared to contain five, but now sits at number seven in the New 7 Wonders of Nature global rankings, rocketing 22 places from its previous position of 29 three weeks ago. It is now officially ahead of legendary mountains such as Mount Everest, K2 Mountain and Mount Kilimanjaro but is behind other popular sites including Mount Olympus in Greece and Vesuvius Volcano in Italy.

Photograph from http://www.sa-venues.com/table_mountain.htm

Well-loved and respected South African celebs and sports stars have shown their support for the cause. The Archbishop Desmond Tutu, comedian Marc Lottering, radio DJ Natalie Becker and the Proteas cricketers accept all cast their vote for Table Mountain.

To qualify for the next in all parts of, Table Mountain of necessity to be ranked in the top 11 of its category – mountains and volcanoes – which has 36 fellow nominees.

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