Abena Kamala lands in Accra …meets Akufo-Addo today

Loud cheers from children waving miniature flags and invigorating cultural dance performances to the rhythm of boisterous traditional drums greeted ‘Maame Abena’ Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States, when she disembarked Air Force Two at the Kotota International Airport in Accra Sunday afternoon.

Kamala Harris was received at the airport by Vice President Mahamadu Bawumia, who wished her and her team a pleasant and fruitful stay.

The 58-year-old Vice President of America was born on Tuesday October 20, 1964, which would give her the name ‘Abena’ by Ghanaian Akan customs.

She would be in Ghana for three days as part of a week-long trip to Africa and will be in Ghana, Tanzania, and Zambia, to deepen the US-Africa relationship focusing on economic development, climate change, food security, and a rising youth population.

This morning, Kamala Harris would be meeting Ghana’s President Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House, seat of Government for bilateral talks.

Later today, Kamala will visit a local recording studio and meet with young people in the creative industry.

Tomorrow, Tuesday,  March 28, Vice President  Kamala will deliver a speech to a young audience and visit the Cape Coast slave castle to speak about the brutality of slavery and the African Diaspora

On Wednesday, March 29, Kamala Harris will meet with women entrepreneurs in Accra to discuss the economic empowerment of women. It is expected that she will announce a series of continent-wide public and private sector investments to help close the digital gender divide and empower women economically.

Vice President Harris will then travel to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania before concluding her trip in Lusaka, Zambia. This visit marks the fifth major trip from a senior administration official since the summit, following visits by Secretary Yellen, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield, the First Lady, and Secretary Blinken.

Speech

Moments after Kamala Harris touched down in Accra on Sunday she delivered an address right at the airport during which she said her visit is to strengthen the economic relations between the US and Ghana.

“We are looking forward to this trip as a further statement of the long and enduring and very important relationship and friendship between the people of the United States and those who live on the continent of Africa,” Harris said.

“I am very excited about the future of Africa. I am very excited about the impact of the future of Africa on the rest of the world including the United States of America.

“When I look at what is happening on this continent and the fact that the median age is 19 … and what that tells us about the growth of opportunities, of innovations, of possibilities, I see in all of that great opportunities, and not only for the people of this continent but the people of the world,” she said.

She said: “I am here to address some of the issues that relate to the partnership between this continent, its people and the people of the United States and to reinforce the work that we will continue to do together be that on addressing the climate crisis, to supply chain, to our work together on international rules and nuance.”

Also at the airport on Sunday to receive her were Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and a host of high level Government officials.

The US ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer was also present.