President John Dramani Mahama has conveyed a message of congratulations and goodwill to the Government and people of the United States of America on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the message in a press release issued on July 5, 2026, on behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of Ghana.
The statement described the gesture as marking an auspicious occasion in the long relationship between the two countries, one that has spanned nearly seven decades since Ghana’s own independence.
According to the Ministry, Ghana and the United States have historically enjoyed cordial and friendly relations dating back to Ghana’s independence in 1957.
The statement recalled that at Ghana’s independence celebration that year, the United States sent an official delegation led by Vice President Richard Nixon, who was accompanied by Martin Luther King Jnr. and Ralph Bunche, among others.
The Ministry said this early gesture laid a formidable foundation for Ghana-US bilateral relations, culminating in the United States being among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Ghana in 1957.
That early diplomatic engagement set the tone for a relationship the Ministry described as having grown in leaps and bounds over the past seven decades.
Decades of Mutually Beneficial Partnership
The Ministry characterized the relationship between the two nations as mutually beneficial, noting that both countries continue to actively implement many significant bilateral agreements across multiple sectors.
Among the highlights cited were the Akosombo Dam, the Volta Aluminium Company, projects under the Millennium Challenge Compact, the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, and strong cooperation in the social sector alongside increasing strategic trade and investment.
These projects, spanning infrastructure, industry, and trade, reflect a partnership the Ministry described as exceptional and enduring, built through sustained collaboration rather than a single milestone agreement.
High-Level Visits Mark the Relationship’s History
The statement also highlighted a history of high level exchanges between the two countries. It noted that the two nations have exchanged memorable high level visits over the years, including landmark visits by US Presidents to Ghana, among them President Bill Clinton in 1998, President George Bush in 2008, and President Barack Obama in 2009.
From the Ghanaian side, the Ministry said successive Presidents have undertaken similar watershed visits to the United States to deepen bilateral cooperation.
These include President Jerry John Rawlings, President John Agyekum Kufuor, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and President John Dramani Mahama himself, each contributing to the continuity of engagement between the two governments across different political eras.
Ghana Praises People to People Ties
Beyond government level cooperation, the Ministry’s statement placed emphasis on the connections between ordinary citizens of both countries.
Ghana lauds the people to people ties between Ghanaians and Americans, the statement said, noting that these connections contribute to mutual understanding and robust educational and cultural exchanges.
This emphasis suggests that Ghana views the relationship as extending beyond diplomatic and economic cooperation into the everyday exchanges between citizens, including students, cultural visitors, and professionals who move between the two countries.
Mahama’s Personal Letter to Trump
President Mahama also sent a personal letter to his American counterpart, President Donald J. Trump, marking the occasion directly.
“As we join in the celebration of another milestone, it is my deep conviction that the enduring friendship and cooperation between our two countries will continue to be shaped by values and common interests, especially in the areas of the rule of law, human rights and democracy, as well as our shared aspiration for economic prosperity, which fosters a close and enduring partnership between Ghana and the United States.”
President John Dramani Mahama
The letter’s emphasis on shared values, including the rule of law, human rights, and democracy, positions the anniversary message as more than ceremonial goodwill, framing it instead as a reaffirmation of the principles Ghana sees as underpinning its relationship with Washington.
A Wish for a Joyous Celebration
President Mahama concluded his special message by wishing the government and people of the United States of America a peaceful, joyous, and successful 250th anniversary celebration.
The closing sentiment rounded off a message that moved from historical reflection to present day partnership before ending on a note of celebration for the milestone itself.
The Ministry’s statement was addressed to all media houses, formally documenting Ghana’s official position as the United States marks a major milestone in its national history, one that Ghana’s own leaders have repeatedly linked to their country’s parallel journey since 1957.
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