US Embassy marks 250 years of independence with Accra gala
The United States Embassy in Ghana hosted a grand reception in Accra to mark 250 years of American independence last Wednesday night.
The event dubbed “Freedom 250” brought together dignitaries, including the Charge d’Affaires of the US Embassy, Rolf Olson; the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, and the Attorney-General, Dr Dominic Ayine, who was the guest of honour.
Also gracing the occasion were the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II; the Agbogbomefia of Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV; members of the diplomatic corps, Members of Parliament, American citizens in Ghana, and others.
The colourful event saw decoration of bills displaying US heroes and heroines from the US entertainment industry, sports, America’s historic political moments, all 47 heads of state of the US, the historical space scientists and astronauts that have marked American and world history over the years, including astronaut Christina Koch, who studied at the University of Ghana.
It also saw the creation of the “Oval Office” corner for guests to experience and have a feel of the American President’s office.
A highlight of the evening was a performance by the US Naval Forces Europe and Africa Band, who played several American and African tunes to entertain attendees. Meanwhile, several American companies operating in Ghana that sponsored the event, also refreshed guests with food and drinks.
Historical relations
The Charge d’Affaires said the occasion was also a celebration of the shared story between the US and Ghana.
He affirmed that the partnership between the US and Ghana was rooted in shared values and people-to-people connections.
Mr Olson said the 250 years of American independence were also linked to the shared story of the two countries.
He recalled that when Ghana raised its flag in 1957, US Vice-President Richard Nixon led the presidential delegation and met, for the first time, a 28-year-old civil rights activist, Rev. Dr Martin Luther King Jr, in Accra.
That meeting, he said, led to the creation of the US State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs in 1958 and President Eisenhower’s hosting of President Nkrumah at the White House the same year.
Mr Olson indicated that Ghana was the first country to welcome Peace Corps volunteers in 1961, and 65 years on, more than 5,000 volunteers have served in Ghanaian communities.
Partnership
Mr Olson said the US, through its American companies, had invested enormously in the country, created employment for thousands of Ghanaians, paid taxes and provided skills.
He cited Newmont, the single largest taxpayer in Ghana, whose new Ahafo mine he inaugurated last October, adding that 99 per cent of its workforce are Ghanaians, including its country manager.
He said more than 100 American companies were active in Ghana across energy, technology and agriculture, with US-Ghana bilateral trade in goods and services reaching about $4 billion last year.
The Charge d’Affaires pointed to infrastructure such as the George W. Bush Highway, funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and 20 years of Delta Airlines direct flights to Accra.
Security collaboration
Mr Olson highlighted security cooperation, including the extradition of cyber fraud suspects between both countries.
He also said the US had invested $2.5 billion in Ghana’s health sector over 20 years, keeping 24,000 people living with HIV on treatment, protecting 1.5 million children from malaria yearly, and vaccinating 7.5 million Ghanaians during COVID-19.
Zip Lines drone network, he added, had completed 800,000 medical deliveries in Ghana since 2019, saving an estimated 10,000 lives.
Looking ahead, he said there was enormous potential for US-Ghana collaboration in commerce and emerging sectors, from digital technology to artificial intelligence, from advanced agriculture to cutting-edge energy techniques.
Commitment
The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice reaffirmed the government’s commitment to deepening friendship with the US, saying the two countries were anchored on shared values of liberty, democracy, justice and individual progress.
Dr Ayine said the occasion was “not only about the US.
It is a reaffirmation of the peoples of the world in pursuit of the blessings of liberty and happiness”.
Dr Ayine said since Ghana’s independence, the two nations had enjoyed “cordial relations and strong friendship anchored on cooperation in areas such as health, education, law enforcement, security, human rights and defence.”
Trade, debt and investment
On the economic front, Dr Ayine said the country enjoyed duty-free access to the US market under the African Growth and Opportunities Act for more than 1,800 product lines. Bilateral trade in goods and services was approximately $4 billion last year.
He thanked the US for cooperating on Ghana’s bilateral debt restructuring arrangements and said the government had “stabilised the economy, restored fiscal stability, and brought back investor confidence”.
Security, education
Dr Ayine said Ghana and the US were “strongly aligned in our military collaborations to address shared security threats, including terrorism, violent extremism and other transnational organised crime”.
He also thanked the US Embassy for issuing more than 12,000 visas last year for Ghanaian students to study in American universities.
At a personal level, he said: “Somewhere in 2002, he was among those selected as a Fulbright Fellow and granted a Fulbright scholarship to study at Stanford Law School.”
