Is Ghana a top ally of the Bush-Cheney administration?

Question

Publicity on August 22 releases a few details of a "State Dinner" for John Kufuor, President of the African nation - -

Not fond of parties, President Bush has thrown only five state dinners in the nearly eight years of his presidency.

No. 6 will be held on Sept. 15 in honor of Ghana's president, John Kufuor, an Oxford-educated leader who came into power about the same time Bush did. Kufuor is given credit for economic reforms, open government and regional leadership. Ghana, working through the United Nations, has sent peacekeepers to Lebanon, Afghanistan, Rwanda, Pakistan and the Balkans.

Kufuor and his wife, Theresa, will get the full blast of White House pomp and ceremony, with herald trumpets and a South Lawn welcoming ceremony featuring the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. Kufuor threw a state dinner for Bush when he visited Accra in February.

"The United States and Ghana enjoy warm relations and a shared commitment to promote peace and prosperity in Africa and throughout the world," a White House statement said in announcing Kufuor's visit. "The two presidents will discuss efforts to combat malaria and neglected tropical diseases, as well as Ghana's efforts to promote democratic values, peace and stability in Africa."

The five previous state dinners were for the leaders of Mexico, Poland, the Philippines and Kenya and for Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip." - - source Yahoo NEWS

Answer 1

Sounds like it was t*t-for-tat, to me; Ghana threw him one, he threw them one. A "Top Ally" is usually one with a modern, well-equipped army, navy and air force. For the US,  it would be UK, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Canada. Ghana is not a world power.

Answer 2

Yes, definitely Ghana is some sort of ally, though the expression does not really fit. Economic colony would be a more befitting description of the US-Ghana relationship.

Remember that the USA do not have permanent friends or allies, they only have permanent interests !

There are heavy rumors that a secret treaty for the installation of a naval base and an airfield in the Afram plains was signed two years ago.

Also, it is not by coincidence, that the CIA have moved their African headquarters to Accra. With the recent discovery of oil in Ghana, the US interest will surely see another increment.

Answer 3

Yes

go to the Bush Administration website - - whitehouse