‘Akwaaba’ to 250 Years: US Embassy in Accra Celebrates American Independence, Reaffirms US-Ghana Partnership

Charge d’Affaires Rolf Olson and AG Dr. Dominic Ayine highlight 65 years of Peace Corps, $4B trade, and shared democratic values at Freedom 250 gala

The United States Embassy in Ghana hosted “Freedom 250” on Thursday evening, marking the 250th anniversary of American independence with music, history, and renewed pledges to deepen US-Ghana ties.

Held at the La Palm Royal Hotel, the event brought together senior government officials, traditional leaders, diplomats, business leaders and guests of honour including Chief of Staff Julius Deborah and the Ga Mantse.

“A Shared Story of Liberty”

Charge d’Affaires ad Interim Rolf Olson, a native of Philadelphia where US independence was declared, and reflected on the significance of the milestone.

“This is a particularly special moment for me as a proud native of the city of Philadelphia, where our American independence took root,” Olson said. He toasted guests with a commemorative glass from the US bicentennial in 1976 that his parents had kept.

Olson traced America’s founding to 250 years ago when colonies “declared their right to self-governance” and asserted “unalienable rights… to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” He linked that history directly to Ghana: “When Ghana raised its flag as an independent nation in 1957, the United States was there. Vice President Richard Nixon led the presidential delegation, and it was here in Accra that he met for the first time a 28-year-old civil rights activist named Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”

That encounter, he noted, led to the creation of the US Bureau of African Affairs in 1958, President Eisenhower hosting President Nkrumah at the White House, and President Kennedy establishing the Peace Corps with Ghana as its first host country in 1961. Sixty-five years later, more than 5,000 Peace Corps volunteers have served in Ghanaian communities. Current volunteer Lipritti Kober, serving in the Northern Region’s health sector, performed the US national anthem for guests.

The US Naval Forces Europe and Africa Band, on their Freedom 250 tour, provided live music for the evening.

Economic and Development Partnership

Olson emphasized that US-Ghana relations are “not only historical and cultural, it is also economic, tangible, and woven into our daily lives.” He cited the George W. Bush Highway funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation, 20 years of Delta flights to Accra, and American companies like Newmont, KFC, Coca-Cola, Marriott and Sheraton that “employ thousands of Ghanaians, train staff, pay salaries, pay taxes, and help develop careers.”

“More than 100 American companies are active in Ghana across all sectors… Last year, we reached about $4 billion in US-Ghana bilateral trade in goods and services, but we know that number can grow,” he said.

On health, the US has invested $2.5 billion in Ghana’s sector over 20 years, keeping 240,000 people living with HIV on treatment, protecting 1.5 million children from malaria annually, and supporting vaccination of 7.5 million Ghanaians during COVID-19. Zipline’s drone network, supported by US partners, has completed 800,000 medical deliveries in Ghana since 2019, “saving an estimated 10,000 lives.”

Ghana’s Response: “If You Want to Go Far, You Go Together”

Attorney General and Minister of Justice Dr. Dominic Ayine in his remarks, conveyed President John Dramani Mahama, congratulatory message to the US government and people.

“Tonight’s celebration is not only about the United States of America, it is a reaffirmation of the peoples of the world in pursuit of the blessings of liberty and happiness,” Dr. Ayine said. He noted that since March 6, 1957, Ghana and the US have enjoyed “cordial relations and strong friendship anchored on cooperation in health, education, law enforcement, security, human rights, and defense.”

He praised AGOA for giving Ghana duty-free access for over 1,800 product lines and thanked the US for cooperation on Ghana’s debt restructuring. “Ghana has stabilized its economy, restored fiscal stability, and brought back investor confidence,” he added, noting completion of the IMF Extended Credit Facility in May.

Dr. Ayine also highlighted security collaboration against terrorism and cybercrime, and shared a personal connection: “In 2002 I was selected as a Fulbright fellow and granted a full scholarship to study at Stanford Law School. I’m grateful to the Embassy and people of the United States for that opportunity.”

Closing with an African proverb, he said: “If you want to go fast you go alone, if you want to go far you go together. Ghana is ready and willing to work with the United States on the ongoing journey for the years ahead.”

Looking to the Future

Both speakers pointed to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the US will co-host with Mexico and Canada. Olson said the Embassy has been delivering “World Cup-inspired programming” and will support watch parties through the Ghana Tourism Authority’s “16 by 16” initiative.

Guests received the US Mint’s commemorative “Enduring Liberty half dollar,” inscribed with “Knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.”

“250 years into America’s independence and nearly 70 years into Ghana’s, we look to the future with optimism, confidence, and renewed purpose,” Olson concluded. “Happy Fourth of July, Freedom 250, and long live the vibrant and enduring partnership between the United States of America and the Republic of Ghana.”