Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, has formally presented his Letters of Credence to U.S. President Donald J. Trump, officially commencing his diplomatic mission in Washington.
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The ceremony took place at the Oval Office of the White House, where Ambassador Smith joined 14 other newly appointed ambassadors accredited to the United States. Notably, the Ghanaian envoy was the first ambassador to be received by President Trump during the session, a moment widely seen as underscoring the importance of Ghana–U.S. relations.
The atmosphere was cordial and light-hearted, with President Trump reacting warmly upon seeing Ambassador Smith, exclaiming, “Look at this good-looking guy,” a remark that drew laughter in the Oval Office and set a friendly tone for the engagement.
During his interaction with the U.S. President, Ambassador Smith expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to serve and conveyed greetings from President John Dramani Mahama, reaffirming Ghana’s strong desire to deepen its long-standing partnership with the United States.
He emphasized Ghana’s commitment to expanding cooperation in trade, investment, and economic diplomacy, describing the country as a stable democracy and a strategic gateway to both regional and continental markets. According to the Ambassador, Ghana provides access to a sub-regional market of over 400 million people and a continental market exceeding 1.4 billion people, making it an attractive destination for American businesses seeking to expand into Africa.
Ambassador Smith further highlighted Ghana’s role as host of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, reinforcing the country’s position as a hub for intra-African trade and investment.
He indicated that Ghana is ready for deeper engagement with U.S. companies, particularly in key sectors such as manufacturing, agribusiness, energy, technology, and services, and extended an invitation for President Trump to visit Ghana to further consolidate diplomatic ties and explore 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 dimensions.
