The First Lady of the United States of America (USA), Melania Trump has expressed her gratitude to the people of Ghana for the warm welcome she received during her two-day solo visit to the West African country.
On the first day, Mrs Trump was welcomed with a traditional dance at the airport and ushered into the country officially by Ghana’s First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo.
The two First Ladies visited the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, where Mrs Trump donated hampers and teddy bears to the sick children on admission.
She also donated a phototherapy machine used for treating complications of jaundice in newborn babies, to the hospital.
Later in the afternoon, she had tea at the Jubilee House and met with staff of the American Embassy in Ghana.
On the second day, Mrs Trump visited Cape Coast, the Central Regional capital, where she met and interacted briefly with the chief, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II and his elders, before taking a private tour at the former slave fort called Cape Coast Castle.
The American First Lady described her visit to Cape Coast as “impactful” and said it “was a solemn reminder of a time in our history that should never be forgotten,” after she was told the horror story of how slaves were kept at the fort before they were shipped to the Caribbean.
Thank you #Ghana! The arrival ceremony, visit to Ridge Hospital, tea at the Jubilee House & meeting the hard workers at the U.S. Embassy made for an amazing first day. Thank you to @RAkufoAddo & the people of #Ghana for such a memorable visit. pic.twitter.com/BCSqgCyGOM
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) 3 October 2018
Day two in #Ghana was so impactful. My visit to Cape Coast castle was a solemn reminder of a time in our history that should never be forgotten. Thank you to Chief Osabarima Kwesi Atta & the chieftains for the warm welcome & cultural ceremony. #FLOTUSinAfrica2018 pic.twitter.com/pdf9yrmQL8
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) 3 October 2018
The trip to Ghana, organised by USAID, is part of Mrs Trump’s ‘Be Best’ campaign, which aims to improve child welfare, especially when it comes to online behaviour and addiction to opioids.
She will also visit Malawi, Kenya and Egypt to complete her week-long visit to Africa.