Harris out to reframe US views on Africa, foster partnership

ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — If U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has a favorite number on her trip to Africa, it's undoubtedly 19. That's the median age on this continent, and she repeats the fact at every opportunity.

For Harris, it's not a piece of trivia but the driving force behind the United States' reenergized outreach to Africa. Washington is racing to build partnerships on the oldest inhabited continent with the youngest population, a test that could reshape the economy here and, by extension, the rest of the world.

As part of that effort, Harris plans to unveil more than $1 billion in public and private funding for women's economic empowerment on Wednesday, according to her office. The money is expected to come from a mix of nonprofit foundations, private companies and the federal government, and it's intended to expand access to digital services, provide job training and support entrepreneurs.

The American vice president is scheduled to make the announcement during a meeting with six Ghanaian female entrepreneurs, her final event in Ghana before continuing her weeklong tour in Tanzania and Zambia.

Harris is the most high-profile member of President Joe Biden's administration to visit Africa this year as the U.S. steps up its outreach amid global rivalry over the continent. She's paid particular attention to economic development and young people during her time in Ghana.

Harris has visited a skate park and recording studio, released a Spotify playlist of African musicians, spoken to a crowd of thousands of young people, and invited a coterie of celebrities, civil rights leaders and businesspeople to join her at a banquet in her honor.

It's a carefully calibrated...