Kamala Harris lands in Ghana on a mission to get Africa to ‘expand their options’ beyond China

Kamala Harris landed in Ghana on Sunday to begin a three-country African tour designed to counter China’s growing influence on the continent.

Accompanied by her husband Doug Emhoff, Harris was greeted at the airport by a troupe of brightly dressed dancers performing traditional welcome dances.

Senior administration officials, anticipating his visit, said Harris will ask 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 through the deployment of troops from Russian private military contractor Wagner Group to help governments in various countries. .

Ghana was the first stop on Harris’ three-country African visit

Harris (R) said the visit would address issues such as the climate crisis, increasing food security and increasing investment on the continent.

Ghana is facing an economic crisis with inflation over 50 percent and its cedi currency falling sharply, hit by the adverse effects of the global pandemic and the Ukraine crisis.

Ghana agreed a $3 billion credit deal with the IMF to deal with its economic crisis. It is also in talks with China about its problems.

However, he insisted that the trip was about helping Africa attract investment.

“On this trip I intend to do work that is focused on increasing investment here on the continent and facilitating 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.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced $150 million in new humanitarian aid for Africa’s Sahel region during a visit to Niger this month.

Biden has yet to visit Africa as president.

Harris is seen receiving gifts from Ghanaian children upon arrival in Accra.

The vice president told the Ghanaians that she was excited to be there and looked forward to working with them in areas of mutual cooperation.

Schoolchildren are seen waving Ghanaian and US flags at Accra airport.

Harris is greeted by supporters upon his arrival in Ghana on Sunday.

On this trip, Harris will also discuss China’s involvement in technological and economic issues in Africa that concern the United States, as well as China’s involvement in debt restructuring, senior US officials said last week.

Harris was received in Accra, the capital of Ghana, by Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia and senior government officials.

Accompanied by drumming and dancing, schoolchildren welcomed him with miniature Ghanaian flags at Kotoka International Airport.

In brief remarks, Harris said his visit provides him with an opportunity to deepen the relationship between the United States and African partners.

“We hope this trip is yet another statement of the long-standing 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 of the future of Africa on the rest of the world, including the United States of America,” she said.

He said the visit would address issues such as the climate crisis, increasing food security and increasing investment on the continent.

Harris is expected to meet businessmen, students, women and farmers while in Ghana and will also visit the historic Cape Coast Castle, where slaves were kept 400 years ago.

He would 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. He will remain in the country from March 26 to 29, then in Tanzania from March 29 to 31. His last stop is Zambia, on March 31 and April 1.

On Wednesday, he will leave Accra for Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, as a continuation of his African tour.

The December summit in Washington was the first of its kind since African leaders came in 2014 to see Barack Obama.

Africa has become more heated as a diplomatic battleground following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year and Russian security implications in several countries on the continent.

In September, Biden called for a permanent African seat on the UN Security Council, backed a permanent role for the African Union in the economies of the Group of 20 and said he was planning a visit, the first by a US president since 2015. , to sub-Saharan Africa. .

His wife, Jill Biden, reiterated a commitment to help African nations have a stronger voice at the UN and other international bodies on a trip to Namibia and Kenya in February.