MODERN GHANA
The controversies surrounding the $48,000 Backes and Strauss watch reportedly given to American First Lady, Michelle Obama by her Ghanaian counterpart, Naadu Mills is set to deepen as government intensifies its clarification of the matter.
A US website reported that Ghana's First Lady gave the watch to Michelle Obama when the US first couple paid a visit to Ghana in 2009.
The watch is said to be second most expensive gift the Obamas have received since Barack was voted into power.
But Communications Director at the presidency, Mr Koku Anyidoho has denied the watch was donated by Ghana's first lady. He followed a government statement – issued late Thursday - denying the report, with a press conference Friday at which he read a letter purportedly sent to the Ghana government by the UK watch-maker, Backes and Strauss, on the company's decision to donate the watch to the government to be presented to the Obamas.
The undated letter which is also not addressed to any particular person or institution, partly reads; “In recognition of this unique occasion, Africawatch Trading Company is pleased to offer the Black Star of Ghana Model free of charge to be presented as a gift from the people of Ghana to Mrs Michelle Obama.”
Mr Anyidoho said, “No where in this thing is it stated that it was given by Mrs Naadu Mills to be presented to Mrs Obama or for that matter Mrs Naadu Mills requested for it. The company did it in the name of the people of Ghana to be presented to Mrs Obama.”
He said the watch cost a whooping $48,000 “because the company thought that, on behalf of the people of Ghana, something of value should be given to the Obamas because that watch is not going to be worn by Mrs Obama, it is going to end up in a museum and so for generations to come when people visit the museum of presidents in America, they will recognize that when the Obamas visited Ghana, Ghanaians, Ghanaians, gave them a gift of value.”
To seek clarity on the matter, Joy News' Sammy Darko, called the Head of Public Affairs at the US Embassy, Mr Ben East who said, “we can confirm that the gift in question, the watch that is being discussed was not a gift from the First Lady of Ghana to the First Lady of the United States, nor was it a gift from the government of Ghana to the First Lady of the United States.”
Asked who presented the watch to the US First Lady, Mr East said he didn't know but explained the White House had been contacted to clarify the clerical error that led to the Federal Registrar capturing the watch as having been presented to Mrs Michelle Obama by Ghana's First Lady.
“To me, what I'm saying is that this gift was not presented by the government of Ghana nor the First Lady of Ghana which implies and in fact states that they therefore did not buy [because] if they bought it they would have presented it,” East emphasised.
But the official website of the UK firm which produced the watch has a contradictory information.
Backes and Strauss, on its September 16 2009 post, titled 'Michelle Obama is presented with The Star of Ghana,' stated that “Backes & Strauss were commissioned to craft this unique piece from our Regent collection for presentation to The First Lady of the United States from The Republic of Ghana during the Obama family's visit there this summer.”
“On Saturday 11th July Mrs Ernestina Mills The First Lady of Ghana presented The First Lady of The United States Michelle Obama with The Star of Ghana to commemorate and celebrate the first visit to The Republic of Ghana by The President of The United States of America, President Barack Obama and The First Lady” the company added.
Backes & Strauss London, in association with The Africa Watch Trading Co Ltd and on behalf of The Republic of Ghana proudly present The Star of Ghana, a unique and one off piece from their Regent Collection. As Masters of diamonds since 1789, Backes & Strauss the world's oldest diamond company craft and create exclusive watches, combining art and science, light and time.
The flag of The Republic of Ghana sits proudly on the dial, being the first to adopt Pan African colours. The Star is known as the Lone Star of African freedom, reflecting Ghana's principles of freedom and justice, equity and free education for all. There is the “Grande Date” at 12 O'Clock with a Moon Phase Mechanism at 4 O'Clock included in the flag of The Republic of Ghana.
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