United States Vice President Kamala Harris will be visiting Ghana later this month. This will be her first trip to the African continent since she became Vice President. According to the Los Angeles Times, she spent time in Lusaka Zambia as a little girl in the 1960s visiting her maternal grandfather.

On this trip, she will be travelling with her husband, Douglas Emhoff to Ghana, Tanzania and Zambia from March 25- April 2, 2023. Her visit is part of the Biden administration’s desire to build its relationships with African countries in a climate where China and Russia have been making progress within African nations. This trip culminates the recent U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit hosted by President Biden in December 2022 in Washington DC. Vice President Harris’ press secretary Kirsten Allen said in a statement that this trip will, “strengthen the United States’ partnerships throughout Africa and advance our shared effort on security and economic prosperity.” Vice President Harris will be meeting with Ghanaian President Nana Akufo Addo, Tanzanian President Samia Hassan, and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema. In a statement from the White House, it was said that the meetings would focus on discussing “both regional and global priorities, including a shared commitment to democracy, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, and food security.” The impact of the Russia’s war on Ukraine is another global matter that will be discussed in the meetings.

Besides official meetings with leadership, the vice president has plans to engage with members of civil society in each country. She will meet with business-people, entrepreneurs, young people in leadership, and members of the African Diaspora living on the continent. Ghana being a leading African nation that has welcomed the diaspora to the continent through successful campaigns like the ‘Year of Return 2019’ and ‘Beyond the Return, A Decade of African Renaissance’, has a vested interest in the diaspora community meeting with the vice president. In Ghana, there are potential plans to meet with the African American Association of Ghana and the Diaspora African Forum.

Vice President Harris expressed through social media that she is looking forward to a productive trip.

Story by: Ivy Prosper

.