By James Amoh Junior, GNA
Accra, Sept. 18, GNA – Ms Pam DeVolder, a seasoned United States diplomat with extensive experience in public diplomacy, has assumed duty as the new Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Accra.
Ms DeVolder brings a wealth of experience gained from serving in public affairs, cultural, political, economic and consular roles at U.S. diplomatic missions across Europe, Asia and Africa.
Her appointment comes at a significant moment as Ghana and the United States prepare to celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations in 2027, further strengthening the longstanding partnership between the two countries.
Before her posting to Accra, Ms DeVolder served as Cultural Affairs Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in London from 2023 to 2026. Prior to that, she was Counselor for Public Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam, from 2019 to 2023.
Her previous assignments included serving as Public Affairs Officer and Deputy Principal Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Krakow, Poland, from 2015 to 2018, and as Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Vientiane, Laos, from 2011 to 2014.
She also held the positions of Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer from 2008 to 2010 and Deputy Press Attaché from 2007 to 2008 at the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, Germany. Earlier in her diplomatic career, she served as Political, Economic and Consular Officer in Malawi from 2005 to 2007 and as Economic Officer in Cambodia from 2003 to 2005.
Ms DeVolder holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Economy of Industrial Societies and German from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master of Science degree in Ecosystem Science and Conservation from the University of Washington.
Speaking at a reception organised by the U.S. Embassy in Accra on Thursday, Mr Rolf Olson, Chargé d’Affaires, formally welcomed Ms DeVolder to the mission and expressed confidence in her ability to advance the embassy’s public diplomacy agenda.
He described her as bringing “a wealth of public diplomacy experience” to the role, noting that her previous postings reflected a strong commitment to person-to-person engagement, a cornerstone of relations between Ghana and the United States.
Mr Olson said the embassy’s Public Diplomacy Section played a vital role in its engagement with Ghana, overseeing press outreach, cultural programming, educational exchanges, alumni engagement and digital communications.
He also commended Press Attaché Matthew Asada and Cultural Affairs Attaché Donyá Eldridge for their leadership as acting section chiefs over the past year, and praised the wider Public Diplomacy team for its work in deepening relations between the two countries.
According to Mr Olson, the section has also supported two major campaigns in 2026: the U.S.-co-hosted FIFA World Cup and activities marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.
He described public diplomacy as “the human face” of the bilateral relationship, highlighting educational exchanges, cultural programmes, media partnerships and other initiatives that foster mutual understanding between Ghanaians and Americans.
Mr Olson noted that Ghana’s vibrant media landscape, dynamic civil society and rich cultural heritage make it an important environment for public diplomacy, adding that he was confident Ms DeVolder would build on the strong foundation laid by her predecessors.
Ms DeVolder, for her part, expressed appreciation to the embassy’s partners and said she was honoured to take up her new assignment in Ghana.
She said her most recent posting in London had provided opportunities to engage with Ghanaian leaders in the cultural and creative industries, as well as the private sector, whose leadership, talent and warmth had left a lasting impression on her.
That impression, she noted, was reinforced during a visit to Washington, D.C., in August, where she met Ghanaian diplomats and members of the Ghanaian diaspora.
“The gathering at Howard University showed me how alive and powerful the ties between Ghanaians and Americans truly are,” she said.
The new Public Affairs Officer expressed her eagerness to travel across Ghana and learn more about its culture, cuisine and natural environment.
She revealed that her first trip outside Accra would be to Kumasi, where she would participate in an education fair, and engage with university partners and other stakeholders.
Ms DeVolder said the embassy continued to work with partners across Ghana to expand study opportunities in the United States and collaborate on programmes in education, entrepreneurship, science and technology.
She described the 70th anniversary of Ghana-U.S. diplomatic relations in 2027 as an important milestone and pledged her commitment to advancing the partnership.
“I’m really honoured to help carry that partnership forward alongside all of you,” she told journalists and other stakeholders at her welcome reception.
GNA
Reporter: James Amoh Junior
Email: [email protected]
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe