New U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer, has presented her credentials to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo t the Jubilee House.

Speaking during the ceremony at Jubilee House, Ambassador Palmer thanked President Akufo-Addo and the Ghanaian people for the warm welcome she has received. 

She also highlighted the strong, positive, and long-term friendship between the United States and Ghana, based on shared democratic values, commitments to regional security, and mutual prosperity.

“I’m honored to be here as President’s Biden’s representative in Ghana.  Over the next three years, I look forward to seeing as much of this beautiful country as possible and meeting Ghanaians from all walks of life.  Today the U.S.-Ghana partnership is stronger than ever, founded on these historic ties and our shared democratic values and strengthened by our vibrant bilateral trade and investment and strong security cooperation,” said Ambassador Palmer in her statement.

Ambassador Palmer previously served as the U.S. Ambassador to Malawi, Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in South Africa, Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam, the Department of State’s Deputy Coordinator for Counterterrorism and, most recently, as Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources at the Department of State. 

Ambassador Palmer obtained her Master’s and did doctoral studies at the University of Virginia. 

She received a BSFS from Georgetown University and also attended Washington University in St. Louis.  She speaks Mandarin. 

 She and her husband, retired Foreign Service Officer Ismail Asmal, have two adult daughters.