The United States has announced over $1 billion investment into the economic empowerment of women in Africa.

US Vice President, Kamala Harris made this known at a roundtable conference in Accra on the final day of the first leg of her week-long continental tour.

“In total, these investments represent more than $1 billion that is being dedicated to advance women’s economic participation across the African continent,” she said on Wednesday, March 29 when she engaged some women entrepreneurs in the country.

The amount includes funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation “together with our administration will establish the Women in the Digital Economy, which is a $60 million global fund, which among other things will address access, affordability, digital literacy, and gender inequality.”

“In addition, the Gates Foundation is investing an additional $40 million to support these goals.”

This forms part of a concerted effort to increase women’s inclusion and participation in the global development agenda through creating access and opportunities.

Inclusion has been one of the key highlights underpinning Madam Harris’ trip to Ghana.

The US Vice President hopes that this investment will go a long way to drive economic and digital inclusion among females.

“And of course, there’s a direct correlation between policies that are directed at the economic empowerment of women, and the general prosperity of society. And this is especially true when we think about the digital economy.”

The funding will go into three key areas such as digitising women-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs, improving access to capital healthcare and education, and combating gender-based violence.