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| Melania Trump: US first lady arrives in Ghana for solo Africa trip | Melania Trump: US first lady arrives in Ghana for solo Africa trip |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US First Lady Melania Trump has visited a hospital in Ghana's capital, Accra, at the start of her solo trip that will see her visit four African countries. | US First Lady Melania Trump has visited a hospital in Ghana's capital, Accra, at the start of her solo trip that will see her visit four African countries. |
| Earlier at the airport, she was welcomed by dancers and drummers but the public reaction has been low key. | |
| The tour, which also takes in Kenya, Malawi and Egypt, will focus on promoting health and education. | |
| In February, a row broke out after President Donald Trump allegedly used "shithole" to describe African nations. | In February, a row broke out after President Donald Trump allegedly used "shithole" to describe African nations. |
| Mrs Trump's week-long trip to the continent is seen as helping to heal some of the divisions. | Mrs Trump's week-long trip to the continent is seen as helping to heal some of the divisions. |
| What is Mrs Trump doing? | What is Mrs Trump doing? |
| The visit, alongside Ghana's First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo, to Accra's Ridge Hospital set the tone for the trip as a whole. | The visit, alongside Ghana's First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo, to Accra's Ridge Hospital set the tone for the trip as a whole. |
| Mrs Trump observed babies being weighed as part of a project aimed at promoting nutrition in children, which is supported by funding from the US government's foreign aid organisation, USAid | Mrs Trump observed babies being weighed as part of a project aimed at promoting nutrition in children, which is supported by funding from the US government's foreign aid organisation, USAid |
| She is also set to promote her Be Best initiative which aims to tackle issues such as cyberbullying and boost healthy living. She tweeted that the campaign was going "international". | She is also set to promote her Be Best initiative which aims to tackle issues such as cyberbullying and boost healthy living. She tweeted that the campaign was going "international". |
| Ahead of her trip Mrs Trump said that she was looking forward to visiting "four beautiful and very different countries in Africa". | Ahead of her trip Mrs Trump said that she was looking forward to visiting "four beautiful and very different countries in Africa". |
| "She is interested in Africa because she has never been before and knows that each country will have its own unique history and culture." Stephanie Grisham, her communications director, said. | "She is interested in Africa because she has never been before and knows that each country will have its own unique history and culture." Stephanie Grisham, her communications director, said. |
| Ahead of her trip, Mrs Trump said that she was looking forward to seeing how the US can continue working together with Malawi to support a USAid programme that is focussed on children's education. | Ahead of her trip, Mrs Trump said that she was looking forward to seeing how the US can continue working together with Malawi to support a USAid programme that is focussed on children's education. |
| The first lady also highlighted the work the US was doing in Kenya to support early-childhood education, wildlife conservation, and HIV prevention. | The first lady also highlighted the work the US was doing in Kenya to support early-childhood education, wildlife conservation, and HIV prevention. |
| "My final stop, which is Egypt, will focus on the country's tourism and conservation projects," she said. | "My final stop, which is Egypt, will focus on the country's tourism and conservation projects," she said. |
| How has she been received? | How has she been received? |
| Mrs Trump got a warm reception at the airport but there has been little reaction by the public so far. | Mrs Trump got a warm reception at the airport but there has been little reaction by the public so far. |
| The BBC's Thomas Naadi, who is in the capital, says it is just like a normal day. | The BBC's Thomas Naadi, who is in the capital, says it is just like a normal day. |
| Views about the visit have been mixed. "I think Melania is a great woman. Her story is particularly inspiring," one resident of Accra told the BBC. | Views about the visit have been mixed. "I think Melania is a great woman. Her story is particularly inspiring," one resident of Accra told the BBC. |
| But another said "she doesn't inspire me" comparing her unfavourably to former First Lady Michelle Obama, who travelled to Ghana with her husband on a trip in 2009. | But another said "she doesn't inspire me" comparing her unfavourably to former First Lady Michelle Obama, who travelled to Ghana with her husband on a trip in 2009. |
| What does President Trump think of Africa? | What does President Trump think of Africa? |
| Ahead of his wife's trip to Africa President Trump told reporters: "We both love Africa. Africa is so beautiful. The most beautiful part of the world, in many ways." | Ahead of his wife's trip to Africa President Trump told reporters: "We both love Africa. Africa is so beautiful. The most beautiful part of the world, in many ways." |
| This view is at odds with comments he allegedly made in a private discussion in February. | This view is at odds with comments he allegedly made in a private discussion in February. |
| Mr Trump was accused of racism, after he was reported to have used the word "shithole" to refer to African nations when talking about immigration policy. | Mr Trump was accused of racism, after he was reported to have used the word "shithole" to refer to African nations when talking about immigration policy. |
| The African Union asked him to apologise over the comment. | The African Union asked him to apologise over the comment. |
| He later told reporters: "I am not a racist. I'm the least racist person you have ever interviewed." | He later told reporters: "I am not a racist. I'm the least racist person you have ever interviewed." |
| In August the president angered the South African government by falsely claiming that there was large-scale killing of white farmers in South Africa. | In August the president angered the South African government by falsely claiming that there was large-scale killing of white farmers in South Africa. |
| The South African government reacted swiftly to refute Mr Trump's assertion that white South Africans were being targeted. | The South African government reacted swiftly to refute Mr Trump's assertion that white South Africans were being targeted. |
| It is not known if Mr Trump ever visited Africa before he became president or whether he had any business links with Africa. | It is not known if Mr Trump ever visited Africa before he became president or whether he had any business links with Africa. |
| What is the administration's Africa policy? | What is the administration's Africa policy? |
| President Trump has not paid much attention to the continent, but has welcomed three African leaders, the presidents of Egypt, Nigeria and Kenya, to the White House. | President Trump has not paid much attention to the continent, but has welcomed three African leaders, the presidents of Egypt, Nigeria and Kenya, to the White House. |
| When Rex Tillerson, Mr Trump's first secretary of state, visited Africa in March he said the themes of his trip were counterterrorism, democracy, governance, trade and investment. | When Rex Tillerson, Mr Trump's first secretary of state, visited Africa in March he said the themes of his trip were counterterrorism, democracy, governance, trade and investment. |
| Mr Tillerson warned Africa of China's economic engagement with the continent which he said encouraged dependency, utilised corrupt deals and endangered its natural resources. | Mr Tillerson warned Africa of China's economic engagement with the continent which he said encouraged dependency, utilised corrupt deals and endangered its natural resources. |
| He also announced a $533m (£380m) humanitarian African aid plan. | He also announced a $533m (£380m) humanitarian African aid plan. |
| On the counterterrorism front Mr Trump's administration has escalated the fight against Islamist militants in the Sahel region and in Somalia. | On the counterterrorism front Mr Trump's administration has escalated the fight against Islamist militants in the Sahel region and in Somalia. |
| The US has set up a drone base in Niger which is operated by the CIA. | The US has set up a drone base in Niger which is operated by the CIA. |