President John Dramani Mahama has, on behalf of the Government and people of Ghana, congratulated the Government and people of the United States of America on their 250th Independence Anniversary.

The Government reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the longstanding partnership with the United States.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said President Mahama conveyed a message of goodwill to his United States counterpart, President Donald J. Trump, describing the milestone as an opportunity to celebrate the enduring friendship and cooperation that had defined relations between Ghana and the United States for nearly seven decades.

The statement noted that Ghana and the United States had enjoyed cordial relations since Ghana’s independence in 1957, when the United States sent an official delegation led by then Vice President Richard Nixon, accompanied by civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. And diplomat Ralph Bunche, to participate in the celebrations.

It said the visit laid the foundation for strong bilateral relations, with the United States becoming one of the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with Ghana.

It said cooperation between the two countries had expanded significantly over the years through bilateral agreements spanning trade, investment, infrastructure, governance, education and social development.

According to the statement, landmark areas of cooperation include the Akosombo Dam, the Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO), the Millennium Challenge Compact (MCC), the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), as well as growing strategic trade and investment relations.

The Ministry highlighted the numerous high-level exchanges between the two countries, including visits to Ghana by former US Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, as well as official visits to the United States by successive Ghanaian Presidents, including Jerry John Rawlings, John Agyekum Kufuor, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and President Mahama.

The statement praised the strong people-to-people ties between Ghanaians and Americans, saying they had fostered mutual understanding and enhanced educational and cultural exchanges.

In his message, President Mahama expressed confidence that the relations between the two countries would continue to be guided by shared values and common interests.

“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,” the President said.

President Mahama wished the Government and people of the United States a peaceful, joyous and successful 250th Independence Anniversary celebration.