Today is a great day. My President is visiting my homeland (Ghana) to talk to Ghanaians about the future of Africa. I am so proud of my heritage, and Ghana is always in my heart. Though I was born in Harlem, and was raised here in NYC, my parents were born and raised in Ghana, and have always passed down their traditions and values to my sisters and I. We have always been deeply proud of that heritage. Ghana was the first country in Africa to gain independence from colonialism. It is also a democratic nation with free elections. We have been devoid of war and conflict for nearly a century– and that is saying a lot in a continent that is riddled with unrest, civil war, epidemics and suffrage. Ghana’s economy is remarkable– we have just valued our currency to the Euro– which is more powerful than the American dollar! So much for swolllen-belly-and-flies-on-the-face images that American media tries to impress on everyone. Don’t be fooled! Africa is sooooo much more than AIDS and poverty! Africa is beautiful, vast and full of riches and culture. We should all be proud, this day. Check out Obama’s address to Ghanaian officials and dignitaries in the video below. WATCH: