U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris pledged $1 billion for women empowerment in Ghana following her two-day visit to the west African State.
Harris unveiled the $1 billion on Wednesday in the capital, Accra, with the private sector set to play a key role in its funding.
Furthermore, she called for more investment in innovation for African women empowerment, particularly in the digital economy, good governance, and democracy.
America’s VP announced the funding during a round-table meeting with six Ghanaian female entrepreneurs.
“This investment represents more than $1 billion dollars that are being dedicated to advance women’s economic participation across the African continent,” said Harris.
Empowering Women of Africa
The African Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative includes nearly $400 million from the private sector to help bridge the gender digital divide.
“Improving the economic status of women and girls is not only a matter of human rights, justice and equity, it is also a strategic imperative that reduces poverty and promotes sustainable economic growth,” she said.
Over $500 million will go towards supporting women’s digital economic empowerment across all African states, Harris said.
In addition, she revealed that the US Government, together with the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation will establish a $60 million fund for women in the digital economy to address, among other things, gender imbalance on the continent.
“We will establish a $60 million global fund which among other things will address, affordability, digital literacy and gender inequality.”
US package for Ghana and 4 others
Earlier, Harris announced a $239 million aid package for Ghanaians and other four west African States (Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire and Togo) for economic and cultural development.
The package includes $100 million investment in coastal West African countries facing the risk of spillover jihadist violence from the Sahel, whereas $139 million will help support Ghana’s economy for the fiscal year 2024.
Her African tour comes on the heels of the upcoming U.S-Africa Summit in Washington this December.
U.S President Joe Biden will take the opportunity to call for a broad partnership with Africa as the U.S. seeks to assert its presence on the continent in the wake of growing influence from China and Russia.
Harris arrived in Tanzania Thursday morning where she met the country’s Head of State Samia Suluhu.
