Press Release

Mrs. Laura Bush Starts Africa Tour With Visit To Liberia

January 16, 2006

The First Lady of the United States of America, Mrs. Laura Bush, is leading a delegation that includes Secretary Rice to attend the inauguration of the President-elect of Liberia, Ellen Johnson-Sirleif, the first woman to be elected President on the continent of Africa.

Mrs. Bush will continue her travels to Ghana and Nigeria after she leaves Liberia. In Ghana, she's going to emphasize partnership promoting education, specifically focusing on the U.S.-Africa partnership to embrace education, both academic education and health education to give children the foundation they need to succeed as adults and the skills and opportunities to contribute to their communities. In Nigeria, she will emphasize empowering girls and women through literacy and HIV and AIDS treatment.

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