By Joyce Kantam Kolamong
The United States Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer, has said that the strong bilateral relationship between the U.S. and Ghana has made significant progress in recent years, particularly in development assistance.
Speaking during a visit to GBC Radio Savannah in Tamale, Ambassador Palmer revealed that over $40 million has been allocated to support health and maternal and child welfare programmes, malaria prevention, and the provision of basic medicines and vaccines in northern Ghana.
She expressed pride in the U.S. government’s commitment to improving healthcare outcomes in the region, which has historically lagged behind the rest of the country.
The Ambassador’s visit to Tamale formed part of a trip to inspect U.S.-supported projects in the Northern Region, marking the end of her tenure in Ghana. She has served as U.S. Ambassador since April 2022.
Before her appointment to Ghana, Palmer was the Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources at the U.S. Department of State, where she led efforts at the intersection of energy, climate, and national security.
Throughout her tenure, she has advanced several initiatives to strengthen Ghana-U.S. relations, including economic and security partnerships, educational exchanges, and health programmes.
During her 3 year stay, Virginia Palmer met with traditional authorities, and discussed the importance of cultural gatekeepers in promoting social change. She reaffirmed the U.S. government’s support for Ghana’s security services and its commitment to inclusive economic growth.
As she prepares to depart, Palmer praised Ghana’s religious and ethnic tolerance, describing it as a key pillar of the country’s democratic stability.
“There are so many things that I will remember fondly about Ghana. Before I leave, I want to write a love letter to Ghana because what I most respect and admire is your tolerance. You have some of the best inter-religious relations I’ve seen anywhere in the world—and the same with inter-ethnic relations. That, to me, is a source of Ghana’s strength, stability, and democracy.”
Reflecting on her time in Ghana, she added, “I’m proud to have been here for your elections. Ghanaian and American elections have much in common. To have played a very small role and witnessed Ghana’s democracy in action and see the model, that was something I will always cherish.”
Ambassador Palmer emphasised the four pillars of the U.S.-Ghana partnership: historical and cultural ties, economic cooperation, security, and democracy.
She spoke about the legacy of Ghana-U.S. ties, noting that although the relationship began with the tragic history of the transatlantic slave trade, it has evolved through shared values and exchanges. She also discussed the impact of the recent tariff increase on Ghana’s exports, stating that the country’s cocoa and apparel industries may actually benefit from the current tariffs compared to other competitors.
“Our historical and cultural ties that began in the tragic history of the Atlantic slave trade but then were strengthened by diasporas with former President Nkrumah studying in the United States and then coming back to do great things in Ghana. Thousands of Ghanaians studying in the United States and now we have seen an increasing number of Americans coming to Ghana for studies. There are about 1,400 at any point in time studying in Ghana.”
On trade, she noted that more than $2 billion has been injected into bilateral commerce and that Ghana plays a key role in international peacekeeping, making both countries more secure.
She also commented on the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), encouraging Ghana to address non-tariff barriers that affect U.S. exports.
Ambassador Palmer’s successor has yet to be named, but she expressed confidence in Deputy Chief of Mission Rolf Olsen, who will take over as Chargé d’Affaires.
Asked what she would miss most about Ghana, she said: “Oh, so many things. Mostly my Ghanaian friends and that warmth, I will miss that very much. I will also miss Kelewele and Wagashi, that is what I try to get, it’s better in Tamale than it is anywhere.”
