BFF-54 US First Lady Melania Trump touches down in Africa

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GHANA-US-POLITICS-DIPLOMACY-ARRIVAL

US First Lady Melania Trump touches down in Africa

ACCRA, Oct 2, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Melania Trump on Tuesday arrived in Ghana on
the first leg of her maiden, solo tour of Africa that has been billed as a
chance to carve her own diplomatic path.

The US first lady stepped off an overnight flight from Andrews Airforce
Base near Washington and onto a red carpet at Accra’s Kotoka International
Airport.

She was met by her Ghanaian counterpart Rebecca Akufo-Addo and a group of
local schoolchildren in yellow and brown uniforms waving the US stars and
stripes and the Ghanaian flag.

An AFP reporter at the airport said the former model was smiling and
looked relaxed as she was entertained by a troupe of traditional drummers and
dancers.

The first lady’s office has said the tour will be a “diplomatic and
humanitarian visit” that will focus on her #BeBest campaign for “children and
their well-being”.

It will also “showcase” the work of the US Agency for International
Development (USAID), even at a time when her husband’s government is looking
to slash US aid across the world.

In addition to Ghana, she is due to visit Malawi, Kenya and Egypt before
returning to Washington early on October 7.

BSS/AFP/SSS/1653 hrs