FM in Ghana to rally Africa support for UN bid

The Palestinian Authority's foreign minister is in west Africa this week to mobilize international support for the Ramallah leadership's bid for recognition of statehood at the UN. Riyad Al-Malki was met at the airport in Accra by deputy foreign minister Chris Kpodo and a group of Arab envoys in Ghana, said Rafiq Abu Dhalfeh, Palestine's envoy to the country. Al-Malki and Kpodo discussed the latest developments in Palestine including the siege on Gaza, Abu Dhalfeh said. The two also attended a news conference at the Palestinian embassy in Accra. The official also met with Ghana's vice president John Dramani Mahama and briefed him on the latest developments about what he termed Israel's escalation on Gaza and the Palestinian arena at large. He also delivered a letter from President Abbas to his Ghanaian counterpart John Evens Atta Mills. Vice President Mahama stressed Ghana’s support for the Palestinian people and said that it was time for peace between Palestine and Israel. He also stressed that Ghana would make every effort to support the UN bid.