President Bush and first lady Laura Bush stand at the North Portico as they wait to welcome Ghana President John Kufuor and his wife, Theresa,, to the White House, Monday, Sept. 15, 2008. The Bushes lavished the full White House treatment on the Ghanaian guests with military honor guard and a 21-gun salute on the South Lawn and a rare state dinner late Monday.
Guest of honor is Ghana's President John Kufuor, a West African ally who holds a kinship with the U.S. president as their two-term tenures near a close. The lavish treatment reflects Bush's fondness for Kufuor, whom he considers a voice of peace and progress in the region. "He has shown the world that democracy can flourish on the continent of Africa," Bush said during their Rose Garden appearance.
Ghanaians gather on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Monday, Sept. 15, 2008, awaiting the arrival Ghana's President John Kufuor and President Bush, during a State Arrival ceremony. It featured a military honor guard, flag-waving spectators and a 21-gun salute.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, right, and Ghana's President John Kufuor, left, talk with luncheon guests, Monday, Sept. 15, 2008, at the State Department in Washington.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice peers over a bouquet of flowers during a luncheon for Ghana's President John Kufuor, Monday, Sept. 15, 2008, at the State Department in Washington.
President Bush, left, and first lady Laura Bush, second from left, welcome Ghana's President John Kufuor, second from right, and his wife, Theresa Kufuor, to the White House, Monday, Sept. 15, 2008, in Washington, for a State Dinner. It is only the sixth state dinner held during Bush's eight-year presidency.
A highlight of the formal evening was a performance of "The Lion King" by the Broadway cast. President Bush and Ghana President John Kufuor joined the cast during their performance in the Rose Garden at the White House, Monday, Sept. 15, 2008, in Washington.
President Bush, accompanied by first lady Laura Bush, prepares to host a State Visit for Ghana's President John Kufuor, Monday, Sept. 15, 2008, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington. 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.
President Bush, left, and first lady Laura Bush, right, welcome Ghana's President John Kufuor, second left, and his wife Theresa Kufuor, to the White House, Monday, Sept. 15, 2008, in Washington, for a State Dinner.
President Bush, right, with the President of Ghana John Kufuor, left, during a toast in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Sept. 15, 2008. The menu featured gratin of Maine lobster, late summer corn pudding, ginger-scented farm lamb with whipped sweet potato and creamed spinach, baby beets with chicory and blue-veined cheese and apple cider vinaigrette. Dessert was banana coconut pudding.
First lady Laura Bush and Ghana President John Kufuor arrive for a dinner reception entertainment for the president of Ghana, in the Rose Garden at the White House, Monday, Sept. 15, 2008, in Washington.
President Bush and Ghana President John Kufuor join the cast of the Broadway production of "The Lion King" during a dinner reception for the president of Ghana, in the Rose Garden at the White House, Monday, Sept. 15, 2008, in Washington.
President Bush and Ghana President John Kufuor leave the stage after a performance by the cast of the Broadway production of "The Lion King" during dinner reception entertainment for the president of Ghana, in the Rose Garden at the White House, Monday, Sept. 15, 2008, in Washington.