Vice President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, says the country’s 37 active sister-city partnerships with cities across the United States are producing tangible development results.
She made the disclosure at the 70th anniversary celebration of Sister Cities International in Washington D.C. where she highlighted the role of city diplomacy in promoting sustainable development.
For decades, sister-city relationships have provided platforms for communities across the world to exchange ideas, share solutions and build partnerships beyond traditional government relations.
At the anniversary celebration of Sister Cities International, Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang said Ghana’s partnerships with American cities have moved beyond symbolic agreements and are delivering practical benefits.
“the value of these partnerships go far beyond symbolism”
She said the 37 active partnerships have supported areas including local government cooperation, agricultural development, capacity building and knowledge exchange.
The Vice President explained that successful city diplomacy is measured not only by agreements signed but by the impact those partnerships create for citizens.
“The success of city diplomacy may be measured initially by the agreements signed, but ultimately it is measured by the real outcomes that those relationships produce over time.”
Professor Opoku-Agyemang further noted that, strong local governments are critical to ensuring international partnerships translate into development outcomes.
She linked the success of sister-city partnerships to Ghana’s decentralisation agenda, saying governance must reach communities, towns and districts where citizens experience government directly.
She said government is strengthening local authorities through increased resources, including a commitment to channel 80 percent of District Assemblies Common Fund resources directly to metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies.
“Development interventions must respond to the needs of our citizens. They must be informed by evidence, guided by accountability, and measurable”
The Vice President also highlighted Africa’s growing global importance, noting that by the middle of this century, one out of every four people worldwide will be African.
She said stronger partnerships between African cities and their global counterparts will be essential in supporting sustainable economic development.
She further emphasised the importance of cultural exchanges, describing people-to-people relationships as a foundation for trust, understanding and peace.
The event, which marked seven decades of Sister Cities International, brought together city leaders, diplomats, development partners and community representatives from around the world.
Story by : Akora Kofi Darko
