Veep Calls for Stronger City-to-City Partnerships
Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has called for deeper city-to-city diplomacy as a tool for driving sustainable economic development across Africa.
The Vice President delivered the keynote address on July 23, 2026, at the 70th-anniversary celebration of Sister Cities International in Washington, DC, on the theme “Forging Stronger Partnerships in Africa for Sustainable Economic Development.”
She noted that partnerships between cities continue to provide practical solutions to shared challenges and create opportunities for investment, institutional strengthening, and mutual learning.
According to her, such collaborations are critical in addressing issues confronting municipalities worldwide, including rapid urbanisation, climate change, waste management, public health, and disaster preparedness.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang highlighted Ghana’s commitment to strengthening local governance through decentralisation.
She said under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, the government’s Reset Agenda places Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies at the centre of national development by equipping them with greater resources and responsibility for delivering quality education, healthcare, infrastructure and other essential public services.
The Vice President also underscored Ghana’s strategic role as host of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, saying the location presents immense opportunities for intercity collaboration.
She stated that city diplomacy can catalyse trade, entrepreneurship, innovation, digital transformation and investment, while creating pathways for young people.
She further stressed the importance of cultural and educational exchanges in building trust between communities. Ghana’s longstanding commitment to reconnecting with the African diaspora, she said, demonstrates that people-to-people engagement can evolve into enduring partnerships that contribute meaningfully to development.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang congratulated Sister Cities International on 70 years of global friendship and cooperation, and reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to partnerships that promote sustainable development, institutional learning, economic opportunity, and shared prosperity.
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