U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris announced a bilateral $100 million aid package for Ghana as she met the country's President Nana Akufo-Addo Monday in the first stage of an Africa trip,

The trip to Ghana, Tanzania and Zambia until April 2 follows a December summit hosted by President Joe Biden in Washington with leaders from Africa, where the U.S. hopes to balance the rising influence of China and Russia.

After a brief meeting at the presidential palace in the capital Accra, Akufo-Addo and Harris said the visit would strengthen ties and opportunities between the longtime partners.

"This trip is motivated by the importance of the direct relationship between the United States and Ghana, and as I travel the continent, those countries as well," Harris told reporters.

Struggling with an economic crisis, burgeoning debt and inflation of over 50%, Ghana has agreed on a $3 billion loan deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Ghana's finance minister also returned this month from a trip to China, where the two governments discussed debt issues.

"China is one of the many countries with whom Ghana is engaged," Akufo-Addo said, dismissing concerns over China's investments. "The relationship between America and Ghana is a relationship which has its own dynamic."

Earlier Monday, Harris' office said the U.S. would provide Ghana with $139 million (128 million euros) in bilateral assistance next year.

This will go towards economic, business and cultural initiatives, as well as the health sector with projects such as an anti-malaria program.

Washington will also send a special resident advisor to Ghana to help Akufo-Addo's government with its debt profile management this year, it said.

Regional cooperation

Ghana is one of the Gulf of Guinea nations, along with Ivory Coast and neighbors Benin and Togo, suffering from the fallout from jihadist violence over their northern borders in Burkina Faso.

Togo, Ivory Coast and Benin have all been hit by attacks blamed on gunmen crossing over their northern borders in the Sahel region, where Daesh and al-Qaida-allied terrorists operate.

A French troop withdrawal from Mali after disputes with the ruling junta there and two coups and instability in Burkina Faso have helped refocus Western partners to aid Gulf of Guinea nations to counter the southward spillover of terrorist violence.

Ghana has pushed for more regional military cooperation among West African coastal states as well as initiatives to help development and aid in vulnerable northern border regions.

Harris said the Biden administration would invest $100 million as part of a plan to help Ghana, Benin, Togo and Ivory Coast in stabilization, governance and countering terrorist threats.

Russian security company Wagner is also operating in several countries in Africa and has been sanctioned by the EU over rights abuse allegations there.

"We made clear our concerns," the Ghanaian leader said about Wagner's presence over the border in the Sahel region.

"It raises the very real possibility ... that, once again, our continent is going to become the playground for great power conflict."

Asked about a bill currently in Ghana's parliament that critics say will severely restrict gender minority rights, Harris said she had addressed the issue with Akufo-Addo and said the U.S. considered it a matter of human rights.

Akufo-Addo said the bill was still under discussion in parliament and had been reviewed by the attorney general, and "substantial elements of the bill had already been modified."

"We will see what the final outcome will be."

Other programs announced by Harris' office will include small business development funds, especially for women and youth, financing to help combat child labor in Ghana's cocoa industry and investments in weather and climate early warning systems.

After Ghana, she will travel on Wednesday to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.