On Sunday, U.S Vice President Kamala Harris said that U.S will increase investment in Africa and help accelerate the economic growth as she begins a week long tour of the continent aimed at offering a counter to the influence of rival China.

For the past recent decades, China has been the lead investor in Africa, in infrastructure and resource development, while Russia’s influence in the continent has also grown, through the deployment of troops from Russia’s private military contractor Wagner Group to assist governments in several countries.

“On this trip, I intend to do  work that is focused on increasing investments here on the continent and facilitating economic growth and opportunity,” Harris said after arriving in Ghana, the first country in her long tour which also includes, Tanzania and Zambia.

The government of U.S. President Joe Biden has sought to strengthen ties with Africa, in part to offer an alternative rival powers.

In December, during the U.S. -Africa summit, the U.S committed $55 b to the country over the next three years. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced $150m in new humanitarian aid for  Africa’s Sahel region during a visit to Niger.

Trip

During the trip, Harris is set to also discuss China’s engagement in technology and economic issues in Africa that concern the United States, as well as China’s involvement in debt restructuring senior U.S officials said last week.

Harris is set to meet Ghana President Nana Akuto -Addo this week, and will visit a former slave castle from which slaves were sent to America during the slave era.

During her tour, Harris will be in Ghana from March 26-29, in Tanzania from March 29-31, her final stop will be in Zambia, on March 32 and April 1, she is set to meet all the three countries  presidents.

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