Ghana steps into Middle East politics with Pro-Palestine aid
Ghana dispatched 40 metric tonnes of cocoa-based relief supplies to Palestine as a diplomatic gesture.
President Mahama emphasized the gesture as a symbol of solidarity and practical support for affected Palestinian families.
The donation was accepted by the Palestinian Ambassador and aims to alleviate hunger and food insecurity in Gaza.
The donation, spearheaded by President John Dramani Mahama, marks a rare and symbolic show of African solidarity in a conflict where most nations on the continent have historically maintained a cautious or neutral stance.
The donations which include chocolate and other locally produced items were provided under the renowned Golden Tree brand and the country's rich cocoa industry
President Mahama described the gesture as both a symbol of solidarity and a means of practical support for Palestinian families affected by the ongoing conflict.
'This donation emphasizes Ghana's commitment to global peace and compassion, ' Mahama said, adding that Cocoa, being one of Ghana's most valuable natural resources, represents resilience, generosity, and economic livelihood for millions of Ghanaian farmers.
The president added that Ghana's position on the conflict remains rooted in international law, reiterating support for a negotiated two-state solution.
' Ghana supports a peaceful, negotiated two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, in line with international law and United Nations resolutions,' he said.
The donation follows Ghana's recall of its ambassador to Israel in response to the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza. Although Ghana maintains diplomatic ties with both sides and recognizes the Palestinian state, President Mahama appealed to Israeli authorities to open humanitarian corridors into Gaza, allowing critical aid to reach civilians.
"The time has come for diplomacy and dialogue—not destruction," Mahama added.
Cocoa relief targets displaced in Gaza
The Palestinian Ambassador to Ghana, Abdalfatah Ahmed Khalil Alsattari, accepted the donation on behalf of the Palestinian people, extending gratitude to the government and citizens of Ghana.
The cocoa-based relief items aim to address hunger and food insecurity among displaced families in Gaza.
Hunger in Gaza has reached critical levels, with ongoing conflict and blockades severely limiting access to food, water, and essential supplies.
Thousands of families have been displaced, and many now rely entirely on humanitarian aid to survive. Malnutrition rates are rising, particularly among children, as food systems collapse under sustained bombardment and restricted movement.
Analysts suggest that this move may signal a growing willingness among African nations to take more defined stances on international conflicts, particularly those raising humanitarian and moral concerns.
Mahama thanked all contributors to the initiative, assuring the Palestinian people that " Ghana stands with them in their quest for peace and justice.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New York Post
36 minutes ago
- New York Post
After blacks in Cincinnati beat white adults, why was there no nationwide, racial outrage?
Recently, a large group of black youths began pummeling white adults in downtown Cincinnati. The original altercation apparently broke out between a black and white male in he-said/he-said fashion. But that dispute soon turned into a virtual free-for-all. Numerous male and female black youths sucker-punched a middle-aged woman. Others continued to kick or body slam the victims. There were many disturbing aspects to the beat-downs. One, the violence broke out along racial and age fault lines. After the initial dispute, groups of black youths swarmed solitary older white bystanders to pound them. Two, the surrounding assembled group of black youths not only failed to intervene to restrain the bullies. They also recorded the beatings for social media and were heard cheering on the one-sided violence. Three, there was neither a police presence nor any timely Good Samaritan interventions. Four, oddly few of the usual black spokespeople who habitually comment on interracial violence were to be seen. During the fake Jussie Smollett attack, self-appointed leaders from Al Sharpton to Kamala Harris immediately issued warnings about so-called systemic white racism that had reared its ugly head to victimize Smollett. Yet when it was revealed Smollett had concocted the entire charade — and even hired his own assaulters — there were few if any retractions from those once so eager to shout 'racist!' Such demagoguery is a well-known pattern dating back to the days of the Tawana Brawley rape hoax, the Duke Lacrosse charade, the Covington kids ruse, the Michael Ford 'Hands-up-Don't Shoot' fabrication or the NASCAR noose fable. Racialists too often concoct white racist attackers and go silent when the evidence proves fabricated — only to be primed to manipulate the next hoax. Five, the media and authorities did their best to either hide or play down the violence. City leaders, the chief of police and the media variously blamed the mass black-on-white violence on 1) social media, 2) the original dispute, 3) alcohol, 4) the lack of civilian intervention to stop the violence and 5) a festival atmosphere — anything except endemic racial hatred shown toward whites from the crowd of black youths. Six, had a gang of white toughs beat middle-aged African-Americans senseless, recorded it and cheered on the violence, there would have been immediate national outrage. Nor did anyone wish to raise the taboo topic of inordinate black crime rates, disproportionate to respective demographic realities. In rare interracial violent crimes, the asymmetrical ratio of black-on-white versus white-on-black assaults ranges from three to five times greater. Seven, the quiet of the left-wing media to the reprehensible violence stands in marked contrast with their usual rush-to-judgment racialism in two near-simultaneous incidents. When a shooter entered a New York City corporate headquarters last week and executed four innocents, CNN falsely raised the speculation that a 'white male' was perhaps responsible — despite the photograph of the suspect, who was as clearly male as he was not white. Media and municipal officials jumped to explain the violence as due to the killer's alleged past traumatic brain injury or because of his access to a semi-automatic weapon — or anything other than his hate-filled plan to murder an NFL executive. Actress and model Sydney Sweeney just cut a jeans commercial in front of a poster that said, 'Sydney Sweeney has great genes' — with 'genes' crossed out and replaced with 'jeans.' Every morning, the NY POSTcast offers a deep dive into the headlines with the Post's signature mix of politics, business, pop culture, true crime and everything in between. Subscribe here! The left then exploded, alleging the ad was a supposed Hitlerian reference to white eugenics. Yet the eugenics movement in America was mostly a product of left-wing progressives, from Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger to Democratic President Woodrow Wilson. And the ad's sponsor, American Eagle, had previously used all sorts of models from all racial backgrounds. All might agree that the ad simply shows both tight, sexy jeans and a naturally attractive wearer — period. The country is descending into a tribal morass of double standards and racial fixations. The diversity/equity/inclusion industry, the defund-the-police madness and the perpetual left-wing hunt for 'white racism/white privilege/white rage' — from the prior Pentagon hierarchy to the lunatic fringe of Jasmine Crockett, Joy Reid and Zohran Mamdani — have all legitimized double standards while lowering the bar of the once unacceptable. When our careerist left-wing elites seek to divide us by race and make it essential, not incidental, to our identities, that tribalist message filters throughout communities. The ensuing signal is that 'payback' violence is OK — on the expectation that there are no consequences for interracial violence — as long as the victim is white and the assaulter is not. Victor Davis Hanson is a distinguished fellow of the Center for American Greatness.

Los Angeles Times
2 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Israeli minister visits contentious holy site as 27 aid-seekers are reported killed in Gaza
DEIR AL BALAH, Gaza Strip — A far-right Israeli minister visited and prayed at Jerusalem's most sensitive holy site on Sunday, triggering regional condemnation and fears that the provocative move could further escalate tensions with Palestinians. The visit came as hospitals in Gaza reported that 27 more Palestinians seeking food aid were killed by Israeli fire. With Israel already facing global criticism over famine-like conditions in the besieged Gaza Strip, the visit by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to the hillside compound threatened to further set back efforts by international mediators to halt Israel's nearly two-year military offensive in the territory. The area, which Jews call the Temple Mount, is the holiest site in Judaism and was home to the ancient biblical temples. Muslims call the site the Noble Sanctuary, and today it is home to the Al Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam. Visits are considered a provocation across the Muslim world and openly praying violates a long-standing protocol at the combustible site. Under that protocol, Jews have been allowed to tour the site but are barred from praying, with Israeli police and troops providing security. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said after Ben-Gvir's visit that Israel would not change the norms governing the holy site. Ben-Gvir made the stop after Hamas' release of videos showing two emaciated Israeli hostages. The videos caused an uproar in Israel and raised pressure on the government to reach a deal to bring home from Gaza the remaining hostages who were captured on Oct. 7, 2023, in the attack that triggered the war. During his visit to the hilltop compound, Ben-Gvir called for Israel to annex the Gaza Strip and encourage Palestinians to leave, reviving rhetoric that has complicated negotiations to end the war. He raged against a video that Hamas released Saturday of 24-year-old hostage Evyatar David showing him skeletal and hollow-eyed in a dimly lit Gaza tunnel. He called it an attempt to pressure Israel. Ben-Gvir's previous visits to the site have been explosive and prompted threats from Palestinian militant groups. Clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinian demonstrators in and around the site fueled an 11-day war with Hamas in 2021. His Sunday visit was swiftly condemned as an incitement by Palestinian leaders as well as Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Sufyan Qudah, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry in neighboring Jordan, which serves as the custodian of the Al Aqsa Mosque, condemned what he called 'provocative incursions by the extremist minister' and implored Israel to prevent escalation. Israel has been jolted in recent days by videos of hostages with their faces hollow, ribs protruding and bodies ravaged by hunger. The videos — released by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the second-largest militant group in Gaza — triggered outrage across the political spectrum in Israel. Tens of thousands rallied in Tel Aviv on Saturday urging Israel and the United States to urgently pursue their release after suspending ceasefire talks. Right-wing politicians who have opposed deals with Hamas said the videos reinforced their conviction that the militant group must be obliterated once and for all. 'From here we need to bring a message and ensure that from today, we conquer all of the Gaza Strip, declare sovereignty over all of the Gaza Strip, take out every Hamas member and encourage voluntary emigration,' Ben-Gvir said on a video posted on social media after his visit to the holy site. Palestinians reported more deadly violence at aid sites and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said a staff member had been killed when Israeli forces shelled its office with artillery. With international anger growing at the situation in Gaza, around 90,000 protesters in Australia marched across the Sydney Harbor Bridge, turning the city landmark into a symbol of opposition to Israel's military campaign in Gaza. Hospital officials said Israeli forces killed at least 27 Palestinians seeking food on Sunday in the besieged territory, where witnesses described facing gunfire as hungry crowds surged toward aid sites and the malnutrition-related death toll also rose. Desperation has gripped the Palestinian territory of more than 2 million, which experts warn is facing 'a worst-case scenario of famine' because of Israel's blockade and nearly two-year offensive. Yousef Abed, among the people en route to a distribution point, described coming under indiscriminate fire, seeing at least three people bleeding on the ground. 'I couldn't stop and help them because of the bullets,' he said. Two hospitals in southern and central Gaza reported receiving bodies from routes leading to U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid sites, including 11 killed in the Teina area en route to a distribution point in Khan Younis. Three Palestinian eyewitnesses, including one traveling through Teina, told the Associated Press that shootings occurred on the routes, which are in military zones secured by Israeli forces. They said they saw soldiers open fire on hungry crowds advancing toward troops. Eyewitnesses seeking food have reported similar gunfire attacks in recent days near aid distribution sites, leaving dozens of Palestinians dead. The United Nations reported that 859 people were killed near GHF sites from May 27 to July 31 and that hundreds more have been slain along the routes of U.N.-led food convoys. GHF says its armed contractors have used only pepper spray or fired warning shots to prevent deadly crowding. Israel's military has said it fires only warning shots as well. Both claimed the death tolls have been exaggerated. Israel's military did not immediately respond to questions about Sunday's reported fatalities at the sites but said it was reviewing the Red Crescent's report. GHF's media office said there was no gunfire 'near or at our sites.' Meanwhile, the Gaza Health Ministry said six more Palestinian adults died of malnutrition-related causes over the past 24 hours. It said Sunday's casualties brought the death toll among Palestinian adults to 82 over the five weeks since the ministry started counting deaths among adults in late June. Malnutrition-related deaths are not included in the ministry's count of war casualties. Ninety-three children have died of causes related to malnutrition since the war in Gaza started in 2023, the ministry said. Israel has taken a series of steps to increase the flow of food into Gaza over the last week, but U.N. and relief groups say conditions have not improved. The war began when Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people, and abducting 251. The militant group is still holding 50 captives, about 20 of whom are believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefires or other deals. Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed more than 60,400 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The ministry, which doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count but says most of the dead are women and children, is staffed by medical professionals. The United Nations and other independent experts view its figures as the most reliable count of casualties. Israel has disputed its figures, but hasn't provided its own account of casualties. Shurafa, Metz and Magdy write for the Associated Press and reported from Deir al Balah, Jerusalem and Cairo, respectively.

Business Insider
2 hours ago
- Business Insider
U.S. tariff: South Africa implements emergency measures to shield local exporters
The government of South Africa has announced plans to draft emergency measures to support local exporters affected by the U.S. President Donald Trump's newly imposed 30% tariff; a policy shift expected to severely impact the country's automotive and agricultural sectors. The South African government announced emergency measures to support exporters affected by the US's newly imposed tariffs. These tariffs, set at 30%, target industries like automotive and agriculture, and are part of a US trade policy shift. Negotiations with the US are open, while efforts to finalize a support package for impacted sectors continue. The tariff, which was announced via an executive order on Thursday, is set to take effect within seven days and forms part of President Trump's broader push to reshape global trade in favour of the United States. In response, the country's Trade and Industry Minister, Parks Tau announced the launch of an 'Export Support Desk' to assist affected businesses and help them identify alternative international markets. The minister described the situation as 'a trying moment for South Africa,' underscoring the immediate risks to jobs and economic stability, a Reuters report confirmed. President Cyril Ramaphosa also addressed the development, revealed in a press release that his government is finalising a support package for vulnerable exporters, with further details expected in the coming day ' All channels of communication remain open to engage with the U.S., and our negotiators are ready pending invitation from the U.S., ' Ramaphosa said. The United States is South Africa's second-largest bilateral trading partner after China, importing a wide range of goods including automobiles, iron and steel, citrus fruits, and wine. However, rising diplomatic tensions, fueled by disagreements over South Africa's foreign policy positions and domestic affirmative action laws, which the Trump administration has openly criticised, have clouded the trade relationship. Trump unmoved by South Africa's tariff plea According to Reuters, South Africa had spent several months attempting to negotiate a trade compromise with Washington. Among its proposals were increasing purchases of U.S. liquefied natural gas and committing to investments in U.S. industries in exchange for tariff exemptions. However, U.S. officials reportedly remained unresponsive. The executive order signed Thursday imposes new duties on dozens of countries, many of them emerging markets, rekindling fears that African economies could become collateral damage in Washington's increasingly protectionist trade agenda. While the establishment of the Export Support Desk has been welcomed by some stakeholders, political opponents questioned its adequacy. South Africa's official opposition party, The Democratic Alliance,, dismissed the initiative as 'laughable.'