Melania Trump Meets First Lady

It was epic, both for Ghana and for the United State of America (USA), as the US First Lady, Melania Trump, touched on Ghanaian soil, yesterday morning.

For Ghana, it was memorable because the most ‘powerful’ woman in the world chose to take her first step into Africa, through Ghana.

Receiving a warm welcome from Ghana’s First Lady, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo, at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), the visit promised to be one of many healthy collaborations between Ghana and the US.

The auspicious visit saw the duo shake hands and speak for a few minutes, with Melania placing a hand onto Rebecca’s arm as they enjoyed their conversation.

Barely a week ago, both first ladies met in New York with a promise to “find ways to continue working together to promote child welfare and maternal health.”

Tea and Gifts

Later yesterday, the first ladies met over tea at the Jubilee House in Accra for close to an hour, after which gifts were exchanged as custom demands.

While Mrs. Akufo-Addo gave her counterpart a Kente cloth and some Ghanaian-made artefacts, Mrs. Trump presented a Chippendale silver tray embossed with an image of the White House inside a leather case, autographed by her.

Mrs. Trump is on a five-day tour with planned stops in Malawi, Kenya and Egypt.

Hospital Tour

Mrs. Trump, as part of activities to mark her visit to Ghana, also visited the Greater Accra Regional Hospital and donated some items to the Child Welfare Unit. She also toured the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

The visit to the baby clinic was to reflect Melania’s high interest in child welfare.

While touring the various wings of the hospital, she distributed gifts of teddy bears wrapped in baby blankets to some nursing mothers.

Other items donated include; baby products, pomade and towel diapers. Mrs Melania Trump also donated a photo therapy machine to the hospital, which will be used to treat jaundice.

The items carried the logo of ‘Be Best’, the child well-being initiative Mrs. Trump launched last May.

Today’s rounds

Mrs. Trump, together with her entourage, will today visit the Cape Coast Castle, after a courtesy call on traditional rulers at the Cape Coast Palace, Information Minister-designate, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has revealed.

“October 2 will mark the first day of my solo visit to four beautiful and very different countries in Africa – Ghana, Malawi, Kenya, and Egypt―all of which have worked alongside USAID and our partners to make great progress in overcoming some of their biggest challenges,” Mrs. Trump said.

By: Grace Ablewor Sogbey/ [email protected]