United States Vice President Kamala Harris has announced $1 billion in public and private financing for global programs focused on economic empowerment of women during a roundtable of women entrepreneurs in Accra. Of the $1 billion, $528 million will be provided by the private sector and will go to support women's economic empowerment in Africa. Harris earlier pledged more than $100 million in U.S. assistance to Ghana. Voice of America reports that she stressed that U.S. interests in African nations extend beyond competing with China. Harris also, during her visit to Ghana's Jubilee House with President Nana Akufo-Addo, said that the U.S. will commit more than $139 million in assistance, most of which will support conflict prevention in the Sahel region, where extremists have expanded their footprint. She spoke at Jubilee House, seat of Ghana's presidency, alongside Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo. Ghana was the VP's first stop in a week-long tour to Africa. Harris will now head to Tanzania for two nights in Tanzania, and then spend one night in Zambia. She is the highest-ranking member of the Biden administration to visit Africa this year.
