U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has, on the last day of her visit to Ghana before her departure to Tanzania, announced a $1 billion initiative to improve women’s economic empowerment in Africa.
Speaking to women entrepreneurs on Wednesday which was focused on women’s economic empowerment in the country and underscoring the administration’s commitment to the issue more broadly on the African continent, she said the initiative will help close the gender gap in access to the Internet in Africa and help women further their participation in the economy.
She strongly believes that women must be able to fully participate in economic, political, and social life adding that they must be able to participate equally, including in leadership roles.
Vice president Harris further indicated that the empowerment of women is rooted in the concept of freedom, a concept that is true to Ghana and to the United States.
She maintained that when the economic status of women is lifted up, the economic status of families, of communities, and all of the society benefits.
She also noted that the economic empowerment of women relates directly to the ability of that person to engage in innovation in a way that makes real the aspirations, the vision, and the dream that she naturally has.
During the vice president’s final day in Ghana, the White House released details of the initiative.
In a statement, the white house said “Advancing the economic status of women and girls is not only a matter of human rights, justice, and fairness—it is also a strategic imperative that reduces poverty and promotes sustainable economic growth, increases access to education, improves health outcomes, advances political stability, and fosters democracy,”
The fund will be established by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Joe Biden Administration.
The $ 1 billion fund according to the Vice President includes a 40$ investment which will be provided by Gates Foundation towards the same drive.
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Source: Anthony Sasu Ayisadu/ATLFMNEWS
