AFRICA’S MAIDEN STATE VISIT:
U.S. Vice President, KAMALA HARRIS Shuns Nigeria, Donate $100million to Ghana, Benin Republic, Cote d’Ivoire; Togo to Crack down on Terrorism, promote Regional Investment
…hands out another $139million to Tanzania and Zambia for Security Stability
*”The Biden-Harris Administration intends to invest more than $100 million to support conflict prevention and stabilization efforts in Coastal West Africa, including at least $86 million in funding over three years specifically dedicated to implementation of the new 10-year plan”- The White House
*‘Nigeria-Giant of Africa becomes object of Ridicule in Global Circle’-EDITORIAL
*BY GEORGE LIJAH OTUMU/AMERICAN Senior Investigative EDITOR & SAMSON SHOAGA/GROUP Managing EDITOR, Accra, Ghana & EDITORIAL Board
AFRICA’S MOST POPULOUS BLACK NATION IN THE WORLD-Nigeria has missed out in the gains of democracy and the hefty investment drive provided by the United States government to combat terrorism and facilitate quick, investment drive to the African continent. In her maiden State Visit to Africa, Vice President of the United States, KAMALA HARRIS led her high-profile week-long African visit in Ghana as part of an effort by the administration to re-engage with the continent. It was so shameful Nigeria had been pushed to the ‘back-burner’, regarded as a country unfit to receive investment drive to put into extinct the nuisance and blood-thirsty notoriety of Boko Haram, a deadly terrorist group in North-East part of the nation.
Backed up by a $139 million aid package the 
visit, which will also see Harris travel to Tanzania and Zambia, aims to strengthen the United States’ partnership with Ghana and promote regional security, according to a White House Briefing Monday.
It follows last week’s announcement by President Joe Biden of a new 10-year strategy to prevent conflict and promote stability in the West African nations of Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea and Togo.
“The Biden-Harris Administration intends to invest more than $100 million to support conflict prevention and stabilization efforts in Coastal West Africa, including at least $86 million in funding over three years specifically dedicated to implementation of the new 10-year plan,” the White House said.
“The plan is intended to address regional threats of violent extremism and instability in Coastal West Africa and enable the U.S. Government to work with Congress to marshal additional assistance to support efforts in the region over the coming years.”
The two sides will also promote inclusive economic growth through investing in women and youth entrepreneurs, innovation, regional integration, and greater engagement with global African communities.
They will also address health challenges, with $20 million earmarked to tackle infectious diseases and $27 million for malaria as well as partnering to build resilience to climate change.
On economic development assistance, the Treasury’s Office of Technical Assistance will deploy a full-time resident advisor to Accra in 2023 to assist the Ministry of Finance in developing and executing medium- to long-term reforms needed to improve debt sustainability and support a viable government debt market.
The project will complement and build on the Ghana government’s debt restructuring efforts. This project is part of OTA’s ongoing engagement to strengthen public financial management and financial sector oversight across sub-Saharan Africa involving 25 projects in 15 African countries.
This includes eight new projects in Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Namibia, Tanzania, The Gambia, and Zambia.
The projects range from revenue policy, budget and financial accountability to government debt issuance, infrastructure financing and economic crimes.
Later in the week, Harris will go on to meet with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema.
Harris’ visit also comes against a backdrop of U.S. efforts to find a middle way of pushing back against the growing, tangible, influence of China on the continent where its belt and roads initiative has made great strides, particularly in Zambia.
“The danger is that we go there, and we say, ‘we’d like to talk to you about China,’: said Mark Green former U.S. ambassador to Tanzania.
“It would be very hard to blame Africans, if they didn’t hear that and say, ‘aha, this isn’t about us, it’s about China.”
In a deeply-worded statement by the Editorial Board of Naija Standard Newspaper Inc USA: “Nigeria by conduct has brought opprobrium, shame and become an object of ridicule in the Africa continent and the global circle. The once ‘Giant-of-Africa’ is now regarded a failing nation by most economists, with rising inflation metrics, scarce Naira notes availability for the masses as leger tender and hard-to-buy fuel; which resultant effect has brought untold hardship to the people. Having had to witness almost on a daily basis, kidnapping and violence around the country. Not surprising Nigeria was left in the cold by Vice President Harris on her first trip to the African continent.”
CERTAINLY, Good journalism costs a lot of money. Without doubt, only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government. We are ready to hold every corrupt government accountable to the citizens. To continually enjoy free access to the best investigative journalism in Nigeria, we are requesting of you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavor.”
By contributing to NAIJA STANDARD NEWSPAPER, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all without fear or favor.
Your donation is voluntary — please decide how much and how often you want to give. For offline donation, email: letters@nigeriastandardnewspaper.com or call +2348037128048 (Nigeria) or +16825834890 (United States of America)
[pff-paystack id=
