The Biden administration has come under fire for prioritizing Africa over domestic issues, as Vice President Kamala Harris embarks on a seven-day mission to the continent to bolster relationships with African countries. This move comes in response to China’s aggressive push to dominate the resource-rich lands of Africa.

Harris arrived in Ghana on Sunday morning, where she emphasized the importance of the long-standing relationship between the US and the continent. However, what she failed to mention is that the Biden administration is playing catch-up with China, who has already signed a series of deals with African countries.

Vice President Kamala Harris has started off her historic weeklong visit to Africa in Ghana with plans to deepen U.S. relationships on the continent. https://t.co/r0an9PiODm pic.twitter.com/4LSVOfmzNn

— The Associated Press (@AP) March 28, 2023

China has dropped tariffs on exports from several African countries, allowing them to export duty-free to China. In contrast, the US has been left behind, and Harris’s mission is to ensure that African governments do not forget the US.

China’s recent $2 billion deal with Ghana to develop roads and other projects in exchange for access to a vital mineral for aluminum production is a prime example of how the US has fallen behind. Harris, on the other hand, has arrived in Ghana with no such gifts.

While the Biden administration faces criticism for focusing on Africa rather than dealing with pressing domestic issues such as immigration and inflation, Harris’s mission is crucial to ensuring that the US does not lose its influence on the continent.