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The vice president was received this Sunday at the Accra airport, the capital of that African nation. Harris embarks on a tour that will take her to other nations on the continent such as Zambia and Tanzania. Harris’s visit is in addition to those recently made by the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and the US First Lady, Jill Biden.
Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States, began a week-long tour of three nations on the African continent. Harris’ first stop in Africa was in Ghana, where she was greeted with a red carpet at the airport in the capital city of Accra.
After the established protocol, Harris addressed those present. “I am very excited about the future of Africa. I am very excited about the impact of the future of Africa on the rest of the world, including the United States of America”, affirmed the second official in command of the American union.
Kamala Harris arrives in Ghana in a complex context for that nation. The threats of instability in the Sahel area, a product of the actions of terrorist groups such as the Islamic State and Al Qaeda, worry the authorities. Thousands of people have died and millions have been displaced by the scourge of terrorism.
The local economy is not at its best either. Incessant inflation and a debt crisis compromise the development of one of the fastest growing economies before the Covid-19 pandemic. This led to an increase in the cost of living, especially pressure on food prices.
In this context, the Russian influence in Africa is also an aspect of concern for Washington. Terrorism in the area has made the mercenaries of the Russian company Wagner find an ideal place to carry out their activities. Mali opened the doors to this group and Burkina Faso is expected to do the same.
The White House is also concerned about China’s influence. Beijing has managed to penetrate the African market with the manufacture of infrastructure, the expansion of telecommunications systems and large loans. Ghana, the first stop on this tour of the vice president, agreed with a Chinese company to build roads worth some 2,000 million dollars, among other projects.
This brings with it a benefit for China: access to a mineral necessary for the production of aluminum and its main competitor in the economic arena, does not lose track of these contracts.
What is Kamala Harris’ agenda in Africa?
According to the AP news agency, the agenda that Kamala Harris will develop in Ghana will focus on young people.
This Monday he will visit a skate park, as well as a work area that has a recording studio for local performers. Harris’s husband also accompanies her. He will participate in a meeting with actors and attend a basketball clinic for girls on the same day.
That same night, both will attend a banquet offered by the nation’s president, Nana Akufo-Addo. On Tuesday he will give a speech and visit places of historical interest. He is also scheduling a meeting with women entrepreneurs that will mark the end of his visit.
The US perspective on Africa
Prior to Kamala Harris’s visit, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Niger and Ethiopia in the middle of this month. In February, the first lady of the United States, Jill Biden, visited Kenya and Namibia.
Last December, Joe Biden hosted some 49 African leaders during the US-Africa Leaders Summit. At the meeting, more than 15,000 million dollars were agreed in commercial associations, investments and commitments that are part of the interest of the United States in the African continent.
With EFE and AP
