Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, has formally presented his credentials to US President Donald J. Trump, marking the official commencement of his diplomatic mission in Washington.

The presentation 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, Ambassador Smith was the first ambassador to be received by President Trump during the session, a moment that underscored the significance of Ghana’s diplomatic engagement with the United States.  

President Trump reacted warmly upon seeing the Ghanaian envoy, exclaiming, “look at this good-looking guy,” drawing light-hearted laughter in the Oval Office and setting a cordial tone for the engagement.  

In his interaction with the US President, Ambassador Smith expressed his excitement and gratitude for the opportunity to serve as Ghana’s representative in Washington. He conveyed a message from President John Dramani Mahama, reaffirming Ghana’s strong interest in working closely with the United States to further strengthen the long-standing bilateral relationship between the two countries.  

Ambassador Smith emphasised Ghana’s commitment to expanding cooperation in trade, investment, and economic diplomacy, describing the country as a stable democratic state and a strategic gateway to regional and continental markets.  

He noted that Ghana serves as an entry point to a sub-regional market of over 400 million people and a continental market of more than 1.4 billion people, positioning the country as an attractive destination for American businesses seeking to expand into Africa.  

The ambassador also highlighted Ghana’s status as host of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, reinforcing its role as a hub for intra-African trade and investment.  

According to Ambassador Smith, Ghana is ready for deeper engagement with American companies, particularly in areas such as manufacturing, agribusiness, energy, technology, and services.  

He further extended Ghana’s readiness to host President Trump, describing such a visit as an opportunity to further consolidate diplomatic ties and unlock new areas of cooperation between both nations.  

The credential presentation marks a key milestone in Ambassador Smith’s tenure and signals a renewed phase of engagement aimed at strengthening US–Ghana relations across political, economic, and people-to-people fronts.