PAMELA E. BRIDGEWATER

U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Pamela E. Bridgewater is credited with leading diplomatic efforts that helped to change the course of world events, including the distinction of being the longest-serving diplomat in South Africa during that country’s historic transition from apartheid to a non-racial government. At the height of the most recent civil war in Liberia, she was named Special Coordinator for Peace in Liberia and helped spearhead efforts that led to a peace agreement, reconstruction and democratic elections.

As a woman who grew up in the United States during times of racial segregation, Ambassador Bridgewater has tirelessly championed equality during her Foreign Service career as well as the importance of involving young people in that campaign. As the political officer assigned to cover Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress (ANC) in the period of intense negotiations leading up to the end of apartheid, a former Ambassador to South Africa said “ Bridgewater established a degree of trust and confidence with Mr. Mandela and the ANC leadership that the U.S. had not previously enjoyed.” She has continued development and outreach efforts in Africa and throughout the world. She served as US Ambassador to Benin from 2000-2002 and received the National Order of Benin for her personal contributions to the U.S.-Benin bilateral relationship.

A native of Fredericksburg, Virginia, she is a graduate of Walker-Grant High School and Virginia State University. She received a Master of Arts degree from the University of Cincinnati and completed course and advanced to candidacy for the PhD degree from the American University School of International Service. In June 2005, the United States Senate confirmed her as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Ghana, the first African-American woman to hold that post, after serving a year as Diplomat-in-Residence at Howard University. Ambassador Bridgewater also served as U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs and was the first African-American woman to be appointed Consul General in Durban, South Africa.

Her other overseas posts include Belgium, Jamaica and The Bahamas. Her Department of State assignments were in the Bureaus of European Affairs, Oceans and Environmental Affairs, and Intelligence and Research. She joined the U.S. Foreign Service in 1980 after a teaching career at Morgan State University and Bowie State University in Maryland and Voorhees College in South Carolina. Students she taught and mentored at Morgan State have distinguished themselves, serving as Foreign Minister, State’s Attorney General, Judges, academic and legal experts and authors.

She received honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from Virginia State University and the University of Cincinnati. Other honors include the Girl Scouts of Virginia Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Dominion Power Strong Leaders Award. Ambassador Bridgewater is the recipient of the Presidential Meritorious Service Award, the Charles Cobb Award for Trade Promotion and three Department of State Superior Honor Awards. Her foreign language is French.

Fact Sheet

Construction took place over 26 months (starting February 2005 with groundbreaking on Nov. 4, 2004), and over 900,000 person-hours were worked without any accidents that resulted in lost time.

This new building will enable us to bring onto the compound employees who have been working in leased space for many years.

The Grounds

Over 85 trees of 5 main varieties have been planted, including 28 cypress and 20 olive trees. This is 70% more than the zoning code requires. According to the United States Department of Agriculture's Forest Service, the value of a tree is approximately $3,140 per year in benefits to the environment (oxygen production, soil erosion control, water recycling, and air pollution control) for a total of nearly $300,000 per year from new trees planted during the construction.

With over 22 species of trees, bushes, vines, flowers, grass, and other plants, the compound includes over 16,000 total new plantings, in addition to 3,200 square meters of new sod. The majority are drought-resistant, native, and adapted plants.

The total green space is 5,613 square meters, roughly the size of a soccer field.

The irrigation system is a sub-surface, low-flow, drip system, which incorporates soil moisture sensors, a clock timer, and a rain controller monitor.