By Felix Cofie
Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Victor Emmanuel Smith, has formally presented his Letters of Credence to U.S. President Donald J. Trump, officially commencing his diplomatic mission in Washington.
The ceremony took place at the Oval Office of the White House, where Ambassador Smith joined 14 other newly appointed envoys accredited to the United States. Notably, the Ghanaian Ambassador was the first to be received by President Trump during the session, a moment that highlighted the importance of Ghana–U.S. relations.
President Trump reacted warmly upon seeing Ambassador Smith, exclaiming, “Look at this good-looking guy,” a remark that drew light-hearted laughter in the Oval Office and set a cordial tone for the engagement.
During their interaction, Ambassador Smith expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to serve as Ghana’s representative in Washington and conveyed warm greetings from President John Dramani Mahama. He reaffirmed Ghana’s strong interest in deepening cooperation with the United States and strengthening the long-standing bilateral relationship between the two countries.
The Ambassador emphasized Ghana’s commitment to expanding collaboration in trade, investment, and economic diplomacy, describing the country as a stable democratic state and a strategic gateway to both regional and continental markets. He noted that 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 also 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.
According to the Ambassador, Ghana is ready for deeper engagement with U.S. companies, 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 further consolidate diplomatic ties and unlock new areas of cooperation.
The presentation of credentials marks a key 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.
