The United States Embassy in Accra on Thursday held a ceremony to mark the 249th anniver­sary of U.S.

Inde­pendence, highlighting the strong and enduring partnership between the United States and Ghana.The event which brought to­gether senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, civil society representatives, busi­ness leaders, religious and tradi­tional leaders, served as a platform to celebrate shared democratic values, mutual respect, and coop­eration in key areas such as trade, security, health, and agriculture.Delivering his remarks at the event, the Chargé d'Affaires at the US Embassy, Rolf Olson, reaf­firmed the commitment of the United States to deepening bilateral relations with Ghana.He noted the historical similari­ties between the two nations, both of which transitioned from colo­nial rule to democratic governance."We are both countries that had to adjust from forming part of another nation, to conceiving, creating, building, adapting, and sustaining our own," he said.Mr Olson highlighted recent political parallels between the two countries, observing that in both Ghana and the U.S., a former president returned to office after defeating an incumbent vice pres­ident in elections held this past January.He underscored the achieve­ments of the US-Ghana cooper­ation, especially in public health, agriculture, education, and national security.In addition, he highlighted the African Growth and Opportuni­ty Act (AGOA), which provides Ghana with duty-free access to the U.S.

market, stressing that "For 25 years, the U.S.

has granted African countries access to our markets through AGOA - a tool that continues to strengthen Ghana's export capacity."The Chargé d'Affaires also called for increased trade and investment in energy, mining, and high-value sectors that drive job creation, adding that "Economies can only grow when countries are safe and secure."Representing the Government of Ghana, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Ms Dzi­fa Gomashie, conveyed congratula­tions on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama and the people of Ghana.She praised the United States for its global leadership in promoting freedom, innovation, and inclu­sive development.