Washington DC, 1 February 2017: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, has appointed Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, a Ghanaian national, as the Permanent Representative of the African Union Representational Mission to the United States of America.  She is the second Permanent Representative to occupy the position. She replaces Amb. Amina Salum Ali, who held the position from 2007, when the AU Mission was opened. 

The newly appointed Ambassador is very excited to join the AU and to be part of the African Union family and looks forward to working with the Chairperson and the Staff of the AU Commission as well as representing the African Union in the USA. Ambassador Chihombori-Quao brings renewed energy to the AU Mission as well as new ideas and programs for 2017. In her role, Amb. Arikana Chihombori-Quao will work towards fulfilling her mandate to improve diplomatic ties and enhance the existing good relations between the USA and the African Union, specifically as relates to advancing the priority areas of Agenda 2063. 

Prior to her appointment, Amb. Arikana Chihombori-Quao was a renowned family medicine doctor in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where she has been practicing medicine for the past 25 years.

Additionally, Amb. Arikana Chihombori-Quao has been actively involved in various programs and projects of the African Union. Since 2012, she has been the Chair of the African Union-African Diaspora Health Initiative (AU-ADHI), where she is involved in mobilizing the African Diaspora health professionals to assist in addressing the healthcare needs of the African continent. 

Her contributions to the cause of Africa have earned Amb. Arikana Chihombori-Quao many prestigious honors. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the recipient of several awards with the most cherished one being an achievement award received in 1996 from the incumbent president at the time, H.E. the late President Nelson Mandela of the Republic of South Africa.