Andrew Karas has been appointed as the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Mission Director for Ghana. In his new role, Karas will oversee USAID's initiatives in agriculture, governance, economic growth, education, and health within the country.
Karas will be tasked with managing these programs and collaborating with the Government of Ghana and other partners to support Ghana's progress towards becoming a middle-income nation. His responsibilities include promoting responsive democratic governance, fostering sustainable economic growth, improving health outcomes equitably, and enhancing primary school students' reading performance.
Since December 2012, Karas served as the Deputy Mission Director of USAID/Ghana and took on the role of Acting Mission Director in March 2015.
With three decades of development experience under his belt, Karas joined the U.S. Foreign Service in 2000 and has held overseas positions in Rwanda, Kenya, Afghanistan, and Djibouti. Before joining USAID, he worked with development organizations in Rwanda and Kenya and managed assistance programs for low-income communities in New York City. He also spent time as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya from 1985 to 1988.
Karas holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Middlebury College in Vermont and a Master of Science degree in international agricultural development from the University of California at Davis.
USAID is recognized as the leading U.S. government agency focused on eradicating extreme global poverty while promoting resilient democratic societies. For over five decades, USAID has supported Ghana by enhancing food security, basic healthcare services access to quality education, and strengthening local governance structures.