LA Mayor Karen Bass Criticized for Attending Ghana Event During Wildfire Crisis

Bass was abroad for a presidential inauguration as the Palisades Fire erupted, raising questions about her leadership during the disaster.

Mayor Karen Bass traveled to Ghana on January 4 for the inauguration of President John Dramani Mahama, despite warnings of extreme fire weather in Los Angeles.
The Palisades Fire broke out on January 7, destroying over 12,000 structures, displacing 150,000 residents, and causing at least 24 deaths.
Photos surfaced of Bass attending a cocktail reception in Ghana shortly after the fire began, prompting criticism about her priorities and response timing.
Bass returned to Los Angeles on January 8, over 24 hours after the fire started, stating she coordinated with officials remotely during her travel.
Critics, including former mayoral opponent Rick Caruso, have called her absence a 'dereliction of duty,' while a petition demanding her resignation has gathered over 142,000 signatures.