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Message by U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Stephanie S. Sullivan
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reetings and happy Fourth of July! We have much to celebrate this year, as we are turning the corner on COVID-19 thanks to mitigation measures and extraordinary science that produced vaccines in record time. The United States is proud to rejoin the World Health Organization and to lead the global
COVID response as the largest contributor to COVAX, the global vaccine delivery program. The Fourth of July marks the anniversary of our nation’s birth and calls to mind milestones in U.S. history. This year, I’m delighted to share noteworthy anniversaries of key institutions that reflect U.S. values and that have shaped the
U.S.-Ghana bilateral relationship: the Fulbright Program, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the Peace Corps. The oldest of these is the Fulbright program, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Created in the aftermath of World War II, the
Fulbright Program reflects our commitment to peaceful relations among nations. This flagship international academic exchange program, sponsored by the U.S. government, has fostered mutual understanding between the United States and other countries since 1946 and in Ghana, since 1958, just one year after independence.
Ambassador Sullivan with President Akufo-Addo and Ghana and U.S. officials at her credentialing on January 23, 2019 Since its inception, over 400,000 Fulbrighters from the United States and 165 countries have studied, taught, and conducted research in each other’s countries while promoting international understanding and collaboration as participants and alumni.
We’re proud that today, the Fulbright Program legacy is represented by hundreds of thousands of distinguished and diverse alumni, who are contributing to a more peaceful, equitable, prosperous, and just world. The Fulbright Program has
a long record of achievement in promoting diversity and inclusion and of striving to ensure that its participants are fully representative of society in the United States and abroad. For 75 years, and 63 years in Ghana, the Fulbright Program has
given hundreds of passionate and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, and professionals of all backgrounds and fields, the opportunity to study, teach, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to complex global challenges.
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In November 2019, Ambassador Sullivan hosted a classical music concert by Fulbright scholar Dr. Cristina Ruotolo and her students. Dr Ruotolo has been teaching at the University of Ghana in the English Department since August 2018 I want to turn next to the anniversary of the U.S. Agency for International Development – USAID. For 60 years, USAID has been the world’s leader in international development. USAID demonstrates American generosity, and has a longstanding history and reputation of partnering with countries around the world, including Ghana, to achieve long-term, sustainable development to improve the lives of individuals and communities. By helping Ghana’s smallholder
farmers to increase agricultural production, and generating employment opportunities for women and youth, USAID has spurred economic growth. By addressing the socio-economic needs of the marginalized and poorest citizens, USAID has supported Ghana’s efforts to promote peace and regional security. And by its continued commitment to help Ghana reach its self-reliance destination, USAID has improved accountable governance and strengthened
institutions. As we wrestle with the second year of the global pandemic, we’ve built on our decades of support and seen the U.S.-Ghana bilateral partnership grow even stronger. To support Ghana’s COVID-19 response, USAID has provided nearly $30 million to address the immediate and medium-term effects of the pandemic on the health, agriculture, and education sectors, and to support the hard-hit private sector. These investments and commitments build on
USAID’s steadfast partnership with the Ministry of Health and others. Longstanding health partnerships and investments in Ghana, including through the Global Health Security Agenda, the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative, and the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, have provided the technical expertise and strengthened the critical health infrastructure needed to boost preparedness and respond rapidly to control the pandemic and save lives.
Arrival of the first COVAX vaccines in Ghana on February 24, 2021. This year, we also celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Peace Corps. This is an important milestone in the U.S.-Ghana relationship, as Ghana was the first country in the world to receive volunteers in 1961. Peace Corps reflects the best of the U.S. spirit of service and volunteerism – and I’m not just saying that as a former Volunteer myself. More than 240,000 Americans have served in 141 countries to work with communities and create lasting change in areas such as education, health, and agriculture. Close to 5,000 Americans have served across the length and breadth of Ghana as education, health, environment, and small enterprise development or agriculture volunteers. Both our countries greatly value this dynamic relationship. A key Peace
Corps goal is bringing the world back home to the United States. Our volunteers return home with a new perspective, appreciation, and understanding for other languages, cultures, and peoples that we share with our fellow Americans. Promoting better understanding of Americans to Ghanaians, and of Ghanaians to Americans, benefits our two countries and has strengthened the ties between us. Volunteers’ work has changed over the years in response to evolving development challenges. For example, Ghana has benefitted from deaf and hard-ofhearing volunteers who teach deaf students and build the capacity of local school staff in Ghanaian Sign Language. This work complements the Minister of Education’s goal to move into inclusive education
where deaf and hard-of-hearing students can share a classroom with hearing students. Regardless of the nature of the challenges, Volunteers are highly effective working at the grassroots level — in communities throughout Ghana and with organizations that work to improve the lives of Ghanaians. We look forward to resuming that work with Volunteers, whom we hope will return by the end of this year after last year’s worldwide evacuation due to the pandemic. We’re proud of the longevity of the U.S. relationship with Ghana, dating back to Ghana’s own independence on March 6, 1957, when we established diplomatic ties, and as illustrated by the anniversaries I’ve shared with you today. But, more than that, we’re grateful for the friendship between the people of the United
States and the people of Ghana. This enduring friendship is rooted in our shared histories and our shared vision of a prosperous world at peace, fortified by strong democratic institutions, a generosity of spirit, and a society that works for all citizens. As President Biden has noted, we have always been a forwardlooking nation, one still striving toward a more perfect union. Five years from now—July 4, 2026—will be the 250th anniversary of the United States’ independence. On July 4 of this year, we begin the celebration with our partners at the America250 Foundation and invite all Americans, as well as our friends abroad, to help honor our past and shape our future. Happy 245th Independence Day!
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U.S. government leads COVAX facility contributions, bolstering the Covid-19 response in Ghana
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nder the dire circumstances of this pandemic that has taken such a heavy toll on the world, the United States is grateful that Ghana is now better equipped to combat the virus. We welcomed the arrival of 600,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine through COVAX on February 24, 2021. On that day, I joined the Minister for Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, UNICEF and WHO country representatives, as well as Ambassadors of the UK, EU, Spain, and Italy to witness the delivery at Kotoka International Airport. This shipment was the first globally under COVAX, a global initiative to support equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, and was the first of millions more doses expected to arrive in Ghana this year. Based on the principles of equity, transparency, and common humanity, COVAX is a global solution to a global challenge. Bilateral donations of vaccines will not be sufficient or fast enough to end this pandemic. As such, the United States is leading by example as the largest contributor to COVAX, already having provided $2 billion and pledged an additional $2 billion in funds to Gavi in support of the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC). This week, on April 15, the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Gavi are hosting the Gavi COVAX AMC One World Protected Launch Event with more than 100 contributing and beneficiary nations. His Excellency President Akufo-Addo was invited to participate in this important forum that is galvanizing the global community and industry to give generously to COVAX so that we can ensure global vaccine
coverage. Proven safe and effective vaccines are our most effective tool in combating the pandemic, and the United States is proud to support COVAX, which uses only vaccines that have been rigorously tested and proven to be safe and effective. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that an infectious disease outbreak anywhere is a threat to people everywhere. This pandemic is one of the most pressing challenges to the health, well-being, and economic security of our time, and the global community must unite to end it. We have entered a new phase in the fight to end the pandemic. While it seemed highly impossible a year ago, unprecedented partnerships between governments, nongovernmental organizations, academia, and the private sector have brought several WHO-authorized safe, effective, and life-saving COVID-19 vaccines to market, with more pending approval. U.S. investments in COVAX support the purchase and delivery of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for the world’s most vulnerable and atrisk populations in 92 low- and middle-income countries. This support is critical to controlling the pandemic, slowing the emergence of new variants, and helping to restart the global economy. Global access to COVID-19 vaccines is critical to reduce the tragic loss of life, to control and end the pandemic, to mitigate the ongoing health and economic impacts, and to keep people safe across the globe. The United States is committed to collaborating with partners, governments, and the private sector to support global COVID-19
vaccination efforts and to ensure COVAX’s success. We are pleased to join Ghana’s Ministry of Health and partners in the international community to fight this pandemic together. The United States has worked closely with Ghana since the start of the pandemic and has contributed more than $4.6 million and reallocated an additional $19 million to further aid the COVID-19 response in Ghana, in addition to U.S. contributions to COVAX. To support Ghana’s COVID-19 response, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has supported the Ministry of Health to train health workers in COVID-19 critical care and to disseminate social and behavior change messages to increase knowledge and awareness around COVID-19, including increasing the number of people who receive the COVID-19 vaccine and deliver life-saving supplies and commodities across the country. In addition, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have provided critical technical assistance to strengthen contact tracing, surveillance, and laboratory activities. The U.S. Department of Defense has coordinated donations of personal protective equipment and medical supplies to aid frontline health care workers as well as testing supplies to increase Ghana’s testing capacity. The United States also facilitated the Ghana Armed Forces redeployment of one of the two U.S.-donated state-of-the-art peacekeeping field hospitals into a COVID-19 treatment facility. And recently, the U.S. government’s Power Africa initiative supported the electrification of 65 health
facilities in the Ashanti region with solar power, enabling the facilities to operate at night, diversify their services, and ensure a vaccine cold chain that extends into rural areas. The United States Government has also made a $3.5 billion dollar contribution to the Global Fund specifically for the COVID-19 response, of which Ghana will soon access up to $70 million to address the pandemic. These investments and commitments build on a long tradition. Over the past two decades, the United States has provided more than US$140 billion in global health assistance. We are the world’s largest contributor to the international response to COVID-19. Additionally, the U.S. private sector has been generous, throughout the world and here in Ghana, where American Chamber of Commerce members like Coca-Cola, Newmont, Kosmos Energy, Mastercard, and many other U.S. firms have donated equipment, meals, and financial resources to bolster the Ghanaian government’s efforts to stop the virus. Longstanding health partnerships and investments in Ghana, including through the Global Health Security Agenda, President’s Malaria Initiative, and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, have provided the technical expertise and critical infrastructure needed to bolster preparedness and rapidly respond to COVID-19 to control the pandemic and save lives. The United States is also committed to working with Ghana and our partners the world over as we lead the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic and launch a sustained and inclusive recovery.
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U.S. supports Ghana’s aviation sector
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n June 30, 2021, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency announced grant funding for a feasibility study to support the development of a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in Ghana. U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Stephanie S. Sullivan presided over the ceremony and was joined by members of the government of Ghana, grantee representatives from the Ghanaian company Aerojet Aviation Ltd and U.S. company Alton Aviation
Consultancy, as well as industry leaders. The feasibility study is a critical foundation before implementation of the project, which would establish the first full-service MRO facility in West Africa. No matter how minor or complicated the repair, airlines must repair their aircraft at a certified MRO in order for the aircraft to return to service. In addition, scheduled preventive maintenance must be completed by a certified MRO facility on every aircraft in active service. MRO facilities on the African
continent only represent approximately four percent of the global MRO market, with no MRO facility in West Africa. This study builds on previous USTDA feasibility study support in 2009, 2011, and 2012 to undertake enhancements at Kotoka International Airport. “Having an MRO at KIA presents Ghana with the opportunity to propel itself into the position of an even stronger regional and global leader in the aviation sector and boost regional economic growth, safety, security, and mobility,” said Ambassador Sullivan.
The grant is provided to the Ghanaian company Aerojet Aviation Limited, and the U.S. aviation experts Alton Aviation Consultancy LLC will conduct the feasibility study. This activity supports the Prosper Africa initiative, a U.S. government initiative to substantially increase two-way trade and investment between the United States and Africa. It also supports President Biden’s Build Back Better World initiative to apply U.S. technologies and equipment to help with COVID-19 recovery.
U.S. Ambassador to Ghana supports “Green Ghana Day” U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Stephanie S. Sullivan planting a tree in support of “Green Ghana Day” on June 11, 2021.
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n June 11, 2021, U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Stephanie S. Sullivan commemorated “Green Ghana Day” by planting a Lignum Vitae tree on the U.S. Embassy grounds. The chosen tree is commonly referred to as the “tree of life” or “wood of life,” due to its traditional medicinal use as a remedy for arthritis and coughs. Ambassador Sullivan also launched a tree nursery at the Embassy for indigenous and non-
native species to contribute to our collective efforts to reforest Ghana with rich and diverse trees that provide vital products and amenities, including quality habitat for wildlife, biodiversity of plant and animal communities that form a vital part of the ecosystem, and recreational opportunities. During the event, Ambassador Sullivan appreciated the initiative of His Excellency President Nana Akufo-Addo, along with
the enthusiasm of Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor, for highlighting the critical need to restore Ghana’s forest cover and to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere. The U.S. Embassy looks forward to working with Ghanaians to support policies and programs that restore and conserve forests and water bodies, stop illegal logging, mining (galamsey), fishing (Illegal,
Unreported, Unregulated [IUU] fishing) and plastic pollution. “Prompt reforestation is critical. The goal of 5 million trees set by the Government of Ghana is an ambitious but necessary one, so we must all do our part, one tree, or many at a time. I strongly encourage Ghanaians to embark on restoring Ghana’s forest cover, repair degraded landscapes, and protect water bodies.” – U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Stephanie S. Sullivan
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American private sector Covid-19 support to Ghana
Coca-Cola Ghana donates 3,000 packs of beverages to frontline workers in support of the fight against COVID-19 spread
Cargill executives with Hon. Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah MP (2nd left), then Deputy Minister of Trade & Industry
Newmont Ghana Ahafo Mine Donates PPEs to the Brong Ahafo Regional Hospital
ATC Ghana Donates US$100,000 to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research
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