Clinton Fights Heat, Crowd In Ghana

Fighting off 100-degree heat and a wildly exuberant crowd, President Clinton kicked off a six-nation trip to Africa Monday in Ghana.

Two metal barricades tipped over and the crowd spilled into the restricted area where the president was walking. An agitated Clinton waved his arms and shouted, "Back up! Back up!"

In the audience, military authorities and police used belts and wood canes to whip crowds back when they surged toward the restricted areas.

In his address, Clinton told the crowd that Africa is "not free from peril" but said the United States is ready to work with Africans to promote trade and democracy.

"My dream for this trip is that together we might do things so that 100 years from now your grandchildren and mine will look back and say this is the beginning of a new African renaissance," Clinton said.

Earlier Monday, Ghanian President Jerry Rawlings welcomed Clinton to Osu Castle, a majestic 346-year-old fort overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Clinton is undertaking the most extensive tour of Africa ever by an American president. Clinton will visit Ghana, Uganda, Rwanda, South Africa, Botswana, and Senegal to applaud gains in democracy and open the door to trade.

"The Cold War is gone. Colonialism is gone. Apartheid is gone. Yet remnants of past troubles remain," Clinton said.

The president said Africa continues to have tremendous difficulties, including civil strive in Rwanda and Congo, a military dictatorship in nearby Nigeria, and continent-wide malnutrition, disease, and poverty.

But he expressed hope that Africa one day would leave behind its infighting and wars. "Surely there will come a time when reconciliation will replace recrimination," he said.

Africa countries also are beginning to enjoy increased trade that will spur political changes. "Growing economies are fueling a transformation in Africa," Clinton said.

Since 1990, the number of countries with elected governments in sub-Saharan Africa rose from five to 24—half of the 48 in the region. Per capita incomes rose in 31 countries in 1996, although 22 of the world's 30 poorest countries are in Africa.

Rawlings has ruled Ghana since seizing power in two successive coups, in 1979 and in 1981. The Clinton administration, noting Rawlings' free election as president in 1996, say they consider Ghana one of Africa's success stories despite Rawlings' rise to power via the coups.

Later Monday, Clinton was traveling to Uganda to participate in the Entebbe Summit for Peace and Prosperity, a gathering of centra Africa leaders. Among those expected to attend were Rwandan President Pasteur Bizimungu and Laurent Kabila, the leader of Congo, formerly Zaire.

Clinton is looking to press Kabila to speed democratic reforms in Congo, especially the inclusion of opposition groups in the political process.

©1998, CBS Worldwide Inc., All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report