Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Victor Emmanuel Smith, has officially assumed duty in Washington after presenting his credentials to U.S. President Donald J. Trump at the White House.
The ceremony took place at the Oval Office, where Ambassador Smith was among 15 newly accredited ambassadors received by President Trump. Notably, the Ghanaian envoy was the first to be received during the session, a gesture seen as highlighting the importance of Ghana–U.S. relations.
President Trump reacted warmly upon meeting Ambassador Smith, exclaiming, “look at this good-looking guy,” prompting light-hearted laughter in the Oval Office and setting a cordial tone for the engagement.
During his interaction with the U.S. President, Ambassador Smith expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve and conveyed a message from President John Dramani Mahama, reaffirming Ghana’s commitment to deepening its long-standing partnership with the United States.
He underscored Ghana’s readiness to expand cooperation in trade, investment and economic diplomacy, describing the country as a stable democracy and a strategic gateway to Africa. Ambassador Smith noted that Ghana provides access to a sub-regional market of more than 400 million people and a continental market exceeding 1.4 billion people.
The Ambassador also highlighted Ghana’s role as host of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, positioning the country as a key hub for intra-African trade and investment.
According to Ambassador Smith, Ghana is eager to deepen engagement with American businesses, particularly in manufacturing, agribusiness, energy, technology and services. He further extended an invitation to President Trump to visit Ghana, describing such a visit as an opportunity to strengthen diplomatic ties and unlock new areas of cooperation.
The presentation of credentials marks a significant milestone in Ambassador Smith’s tenure and signals a renewed phase of engagement aimed at strengthening U.S.–Ghana relations across political, economic and people-to-people fronts.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
