Good Monday morning from Accra, Ghana, where VP Kamala Harris is kicking
off a seven-day diplomatic mission to Africa, aiming to reset relations
between the United States and the three countries she’s visiting —
Ghana, Zambia and Tanzania — as China looks to deepen its foothold on
the continent.

Playbook is with Harris as she becomes the latest and highest-ranking
administration official to travel to Africa as part of President Joe
Biden's effort to reengage with the continent economically after decades
of relations focused mainly on human rights and humanitarian concerns.

Her schedule includes bilateral meetings with the leaders of each of the
three nations, a visit to Ghana’s Cape Coast slave castle, announcements
of new public-private investments, confabs with business and
philanthropic leaders and even a trip to a local music studio.

Harris must balance myriad diplomatic goals …  

- Prove to African nations that the U.S. — like China — is willing to
invest hard dollars in their countries as true partners …
- While not framing those partnerships as merely part of a global
clash of superpowers … 
- And also changing how Americans see the continent in order to
generate more private investment.