Kamala Harris landed in Ghana on Sunday to begin a three-nation tour of Africa in a bid to counter China’s growing influence on the continent.
Accompanied by her husband, Doug Emhoff, Harris was greeted at the airport by a group of brightly dressed dancers who performed traditional welcome dances.
Senior government officials predicting her visit said Harris will urge leaders not to “choose” between the US and China, but to “broaden” their options.
China has invested heavily in Africa in recent decades, including in infrastructure and resource development, while Russian influence has also grown, including using troops from Russia’s private military company Wagner Group to support governments in several countries.
Kamala Harris arrives in Accra, capital of Ghana, on Sunday and is greeted by Vice President of Ghana Mahamudu Bawumia
Ghana was the first stop on Harris’ three-man visit to Africa
Harris (R) said the visit will address issues such as the climate crisis, increasing food security and increasing investment on the continent
Ghana is facing an economic crisis with inflation exceeding 50 percent and a sharp drop in its cedi currency, which has been hit by the adverse effects of the global pandemic and the Ukraine crisis.
Ghana has agreed a $3 billion loan deal with the IMF to deal with its economic crisis. It is also in talks with China about its problems.
But she insisted the trip was about helping Africa attract investment.
“On this trip, I intend to do work focused on increasing investment here on the continent and promoting economic growth and opportunity,” Harris said shortly after landing.
The Biden administration has sought to strengthen ties with Africa, in part to offer an alternative to rival powers.
In December, ahead of a US-Africa summit, the US pledged $55 billion to the continent over the next three years.
Foreign Minister Antony Blinken announced $150 million in new humanitarian aid to Africa’s Sahel during a visit to Niger this month.
Biden has yet to visit Africa as president.
Harris receives gifts from Ghanaian children upon arrival in Accra
The vice president told Ghanaians she was thrilled to be there and looked forward to working with them on areas of mutual cooperation
Schoolchildren wave Ghanaian and US flags at Accra airport
Harris is greeted by well-wishers upon his arrival in Ghana on Sunday
During the trip, Harris will also discuss China’s involvement in technology and economic issues in Africa affecting the United States, as well as China’s involvement in debt restructuring, senior US officials said last week.
Harris was received in Ghana’s capital, Accra, by Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia and senior government officials.
Accompanied by drums and dancing, school children greeted them with miniature flags of Ghana at Kotoka International Airport.
In brief remarks, Harris said her visit will give her an opportunity to deepen ties between the United States and African partners.
“We look forward to this trip as another sign of the long and enduring and very important relationship and friendship between the people of the United States and those who live on the African continent,” Harris said.
“I am very excited about the future of Africa. I am very excited about the impact Africa’s future will have on the rest of the world, including the United States of America,” she said.
She said the visit will address issues such as the climate crisis, increasing food security and growing investment on the continent.
Harris is expected to meet entrepreneurs, students, women and farmers during his stay in Ghana, and also visit the historic Cape Coast Castle, where slaves were kept 400 years ago.
She will hold bilateral talks with President Nana Akufo-Addo and meet with civil society representatives.
The California-born Vice President is seen with her Ghanaian counterpart, Mahamudu Bawumia
Mahamudu Bawumia welcomed Harris on Sunday. She will remain in the country from March 26-29, then in Tanzania from March 29-31. Your final stop will be Zambia on March 31st and April 1st
On Wednesday she leaves Accra for Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to continue her African tour.
The December summit in Washington was the first of its kind since African leaders joined Barack Obama in 2014.
Africa has become increasingly heated as a diplomatic battleground following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year and Russian security engagements in several countries on the continent.
In September, Biden called for a permanent African seat on the UN Security Council, supported a permanent role for the African Union in the Group of 20 economies and said he plans a visit — the first by a US president since 2015 — to sub-Saharan Africa.
His wife, Jill Biden, reiterated his commitment to helping African nations have a louder voice at the United Nations and other international bodies during a trip to Namibia and Kenya in February.