Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has delivered the keynote address at the 70th anniversary celebration of Sister Cities International in Washington, DC.

Sister Cities International, founded in 1956, is a non-profit network headquartered in Washington, DC, that connects communities in the United States with global partners through cultural, educational and trade exchanges.

A statement issued by the Office of the Vice President said Prof Opoku-Agyemang, speaking on the theme: “Forging Stronger Partnerships in Africa for Sustainable Economic Development,” underscored the importance of city-to-city diplomacy in advancing development, strengthening institutions and fostering international relationships.

“City-to-city partnerships continue to provide solutions to shared challenges and create opportunities for investment and mutual learning,” Vice President Prof Opoku-Agyemang said.

She reiterated Ghana’s commitment to strengthening local governance through decentralisation and noted that under President John Dramani Mahama’s Reset Agenda, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies remained central to national development.

The Vice President explained that the Assemblies were being empowered with greater resources and responsibilities to improve the delivery of quality education, healthcare, infrastructure and other essential public services.

Prof Opoku-Agyemang also highlighted Ghana’s strategic role as host of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and pointed to the vast opportunities for inter-city collaboration across the continent.

She said city diplomacy had the potential to stimulate trade, entrepreneurship, innovation, digital transformation and investment, while creating opportunities for the youth.

The Vice President noted that cultural and educational exchanges remained critical to building trust and strengthening bonds between communities.

She said Ghana’s long-standing commitment to reconnecting with the African diaspora demonstrated how people-to-people engagement could develop into enduring partnerships that contributed significantly to development.

“As cities worldwide face common challenges, including rapid urbanisation, climate change, waste management, public health, and disaster preparedness, we need greater collaboration among municipalities to share knowledge, strengthen institutional capacity, and develop practical solutions that enhance our quality of life,” Vice President Prof Opoku-Agyemang stated.

Prof Opoku-Agyemang congratulated Sister Cities International on its 70 years of promoting global friendship and cooperation and reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to partnerships that advanced sustainable development, institutional learning, economic opportunity and shared prosperity.