Michelle Obama rejects Naadu’s gift – was it a stolen watch?
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When the Obama’s first visited Ghana in July 2009, it was their first official trip to the African continent as President and First Lady. Barack Obama being the first son of a slave to become president of the United States, he chose Ghana. It was just right because Ghana happened to also be the first black African country south of the Sahara to gain independence in 1957 after 500 years of colonial rule. (OK, fine. He isn’t really ‘the first son of a slave’ to become president – his dad was from Kenya – but this is Black History month and ‘son of a slave’ just has a better ring to it.)
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With all the pomp and pageantry that surrounded the state visit, even with the Americans taking over Ghana’s security setup to ensure the safety of their Black president, a dirty Pandora’s Box has been opened two years on. Despite the strong concerted effort by the State Protocol in Ghana that ensured President Evans Atta-Mills did not release another banging ‘ecomini’ ringtone when he met Barack Obama at close range, all h ell has broken loose!
You would wonder how the first lady of a poor country (in this case, Ghana) was able to present a $48,000 USD wrist watch crafted in 18kt rose gold made by Backes & Strauss (London) as gift to the first lady of the richest country in world. Especially when the president, then candidate Mills of the National Democratic Congress had campaigned to cut down on profligate expenditure when voted into power.
Contrary to what Ghanaians were led to believe, that the Obama’s were presented with Kente cloths and a set of jewelry beads worth a little over ghc600 ($400usd) by the first couple, a report on yahoo! rated Ghana’s gift to the Obama’s in 2009 as the second most expensive.
The entry in the United States Gifts registry showed stated the Michelle Obama had rejected the gift from Naadu, assigning reason of poor quality and design. Michelle Obama said she would rather have the watch displayed in the Museum than on her wrist.
While the opposition and the taxpaying masses were criticizing the donation there has been a sudden twist to the controversy. Partners of Backes & Strauss in Accra, the Africa Watch Trading Company have also revealed that wrist watch in question was part of their collection that were stolen a few years ago from their retail outlet when thieves broke in. Sources close to the company told MB the matter has been reported to the police.
MB is keeping a close eye on this developing story and will keep you informed.
