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Tag: Beirut

  • Foreign Affairs Minister tours Lebanon

    Foreign Affairs Minister tours Lebanon

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has embarked on a four-day official visit to Beirut, Lebanon, aimed at fostering collaboration and cooperation between the two nations.

    During her stay, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey engaged in discussions with her Lebanese counterpart, Mr Abdallah Bou Habib, emphasizing the importance of extending cooperation beyond existing avenues.

    Furthermore, Ayorkor Botchwey met with Mr Nabih Berri, Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, focusing on the recently established Ghana-Lebanon Parliamentary Friendship and advocating for enhanced exchanges between the countries.

    Additionally, meetings were held with Mr Bassam Mawlawi, Lebanon’s Minister of the Interior, and Mr Elias Baissari, Head of General Security.

    These discussions underscored the significance of Ghana-Lebanon relations, particularly acknowledging Ghana’s contribution to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

    Ayorkor Botchwey expressed optimism for improved conditions for Ghanaian workers in Lebanon, while commemorating the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two nations, further strengthening their relations.

  • Beirut explosion: World leaders to hold aid summit

    International leaders will hold talks on Sunday to raise aid for Beirut, five days after the massive explosion which devastated the Lebanese capital.

    The virtual conference – set up by France and the United Nations – starts at 14:00 Lebanon time (11:00 GMT).

    US President Donald Trump has said he plans to join the call.

    Officials estimate the blast at the warehouse, which stored 2,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, caused up to $15 billion (£11.5bn) in damage.

    The explosion left at least 158 people dead, 5,000 injured and 300,000 homeless.

    On Saturday several thousand people took to the streets, with police firing tear gas at stone-throwing protesters and some demonstrators storming government ministries.

    In a televised address, Lebanese PM Hassan Diab said he would ask for early elections as a way out of the crisis. The issue will be discussed in cabinet on Monday.

    Lebanon was already mired in a deep economic crisis and struggling to tackle the coronavirus pandemic before the explosion tore through Beirut.

    An anti-government protest movement erupted last October, fuelled by the financial situation and a collapsing currency.

    What’s happening on Sunday?

    French President Emmanuel Macron visited Beirut on Thursday, and announced he wanted to co-ordinate international aid for the country.

    A statement from France’s presidential palace says Sunday’s conference “will aim to mobilize Lebanon’s main international partners and to organize and co-ordinate emergency support from the international community”.

    Representatives from European Union member states, China, Russia, Egypt, Jordan and the UK will all take part, with many others invited to attend.

    In a series of tweets, President Trump said he had discussed the “catastrophic event” in Beirut with Mr Macron and would himself join the call.

    “Everyone wants to help!” he wrote.

    Source: bbc.com