It's my great honor to be on the continent of Africa – first here in Ghana, then to Tanzania and Zambia. I look forward to meeting with leaders, young people, and entrepreneurs as we work together to invest in the innovation and ingenuity across the continent. pic.twitter.com/imBoTwpldz — Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) March 26, …
Thursday Morning Open Thread: Vice-President Harris in AfricaPost + Comments (133)
… For Harris, it’s not a piece of trivia but the driving force behind the stepped-up U.S. outreach to African countries. Washington is racing to build partnerships on the oldest inhabited continent with the youngest population, a test that could reshape the economy in Africa and, by extension, the rest of the world.
In the near future, “1 in 4 people on this earth will be on this continent,” Harris said during a conversation with reporters. “Just on that alone — the demographics of it all alone — if you put aside the present and the past, if we are to be forward-looking in terms of national policies and priorities, we have to look at this continent.”
As part of that effort, Harris on Wednesday announced more than $1 billion in public and private money for women’s economic empowerment. The money is expected to come from a mix of nonprofit foundations, private companies and the U.S. government, and it’s intended to expand access to digital services, provide job training and support entrepreneurs…
Harris is the highest-profile member of President Joe Biden’s administration to visit Africa this year. While in Ghana, she paid particular attention to economic development and young people.
She visited a skate park and recording studio, released a Spotify playlist of African musicians, spoken before thousands of young people, and invited celebrities, civil rights leaders and businesspeople to join her at a banquet in her honor.
It’s a carefully calibrated campaign to reframe how Americans view opportunities in Africa, something that senior officials from Harris’ office described as central to her goals for the trip. New investments could not only benefit U.S. businesses but also alleviate one of the most pressing challenges here.
Vice President Kamala Harris was greeted by schoolchildren, dancers and drummers as she arrived Sunday in Ghana for the start of a weeklong visit to Africa intended to deepen U.S. relationships.
Read More ????https://t.co/idElZxCGXx pic.twitter.com/cC4cblbZR4
— theGrio.com (@theGrio) March 26, 2023
“The stories must be told.”??
An emotional ????US @VP Kamala Harris nearly breaks down after walking the dark dungeons of the Cape Coast Castle in Ghana????, the last point from where many enslaved Africans were shipped to the Americas under colonialism. ?? pic.twitter.com/IkjiV3maBF
— Kenneth Awotwe Darko (@TheKennethDarko) March 28, 2023
Let me tell you a little bit about our tour with Vice President Harris today at Cape Coast Castle.
Near the Door of No Return, Harris walked into the dungeon that once held enslaved women, carrying a bouquet of white flowers that she had been gifted earlier.
— Chris Megerian (@ChrisMegerian) March 28, 2023
The tour guide explained that the women imprisoned there would gaze up toward the sky through holes in the ceiling and sing songs hoping for death, “because death means freedom.”
Then the guide sang the song to Harris as she stood there in the dungeon, the words echoing off the walls of the dimly lit chamber.
Harris left the flowers there, then walked through the Door of No Return. She gazed out at a harbor that was filled with small fishing boats, but long ago had been the final point of departure for a cruel journey to the Americas.
When Harris spoke after the tour, she discarded her prepared remarks, and she talked about “the anguish that reeks from this place.”
And she spoke of the endurance of the African diaspora.
“All of us, regardless of our background, have benefited from their fight for freedom and justice.”
Kamala Harris, who is in Ghana and will also visit Tanzania and Zambia, said the United States would continue to push for all bilateral creditors to provide 'meaningful debt reduction' for countries that need it https://t.co/9VLBf6aqFK pic.twitter.com/aLXAJg8Fcd
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 28, 2023
CBS News aired a great segment discussing @VP Harris’ travel to Africa detailing policy and the administration’s priorities.
I want to highlight the last question on the symbolism of the first woman Vice President of the U.S. in this moment.
Full video in comments. #VPinAfrica pic.twitter.com/XKyvymZMWY
— ? Owning My Space ? (@JuneSummer1) March 28, 2023
You can feel the excitement in the air! We are all looking forward to welcoming @VP Kamala Harris to Tanzania tonight. So grateful for the support we've received from @ikulumawasliano, @mfa_tanzania and many others to make this visit a success. ?????????? https://t.co/Bhm08Fc4Ha
— Ambassador Michael Battle (@USAmbTanzania) March 29, 2023
Today, @VP met with women entrepreneurs, where she announced more than $1B in private sector commitments to empower women across the continent.
Why is this important? @VP is using her global leadership position to advance the standing and status of women around the world. pic.twitter.com/PMblMkip9K
— Rachel Palermo (@RachelPalermo46) March 30, 2023
For the first time ever, @NBA hosted an all-girls @JrNBA clinic in Ghana.
We want every young girl to know that you can do anything you set your mind to. Women and girls must have equal access to opportunities on and off the court. pic.twitter.com/YOdQIlz9cF— Douglas Emhoff (@SecondGentleman) March 29, 2023
Someday…
Full video here ?? https://t.co/mJyqeaPMRX
— Qondi (@QondiNtini) March 27, 2023