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Sekondi-Takoradi and Boston, Oaklansd and Plymouth Partnership
With globalization and intense economic competition worldwide, the objective of the twining relations is to afford Ghana in general and Sekondi Takoradi (SAEMA) in particular the rare opportunity to have a competitive edge towards rapid collaborative development of the people.
The Assembly in her efforts to mobilize available resources to undertake her socio-economic development looks at various sources. One such source is fostering partnership with her International collaborators. Officially Sekondi/Takoradi has three (3) Sister City partners, Boston, Massachusetts, Oakland California, both in United States and Plymouth in U.K.
Boston Partnership:
The idea of a Sister City relationship between Boston and a city in Ghana was conceived by the Boston City Council President Charles Yancey when he lead a delegation of 60 African American elected officials to a conference in Accra in May 1999. He visited Sekondi/Takoradi on 17th May 1999 during which an MOU was signed formally initiating the relationship. Through the hard work of Hon. Charles Yancey, the late Kofi Essien of Boston Trust Bank and Col. Kaku Korsah then the Metro Chief Executive of SAEMA, a solid foundation for the partnership between the two Cities was laid under the following objectives.
- To develop municipal partnership between the City of Boston and Sekondi/Takoradi.
- To provide opportunities of City officials and citizens to experience and explore each country’s culture through long term community partnership.
- To create an atmosphere in which economic and community development can be implemented and strengthened between the two cities
- To promote cordial environment through which the two communities will learn to work and solve problems together through reciprocal cultural, educational, municipal, business, professional and technical exchanges and projects.
Ratification of Accord
The initial hard work of Hon. Charles Yancey, Mr Kofi Essien and Col. Kaku Korsah was brought into fruition through the instrumentality and charisma of Hon. Metro Chief Executive, Philip Kwesi Nkrumah who led a delegation to Boston in 2001 for the ratification of the accord between the two cities
The accord was finally ratified on Friday 19th October 2001 at a ceremony witness by all the 13 councillors of the Boston City Council.
Uniqueness
Sekondi/Takoradi/Boston relationship is unique and draws its peculiarity from the fact that, it is the very first of its kind involving Boston and any other cities on the African continent. It is also further given credence to by the fact that the two cities have similar characteristics.
Common attributes Boston Sekondi/Takoradi.
- All the two Cities has a seaport
- Population of the two cities are almost the same
- Boston city has a university whilst Sekondi/Takoradi has a Polytechnic
Achievements
- Business forum in Boston hosted by the Boston Private Bank and Trust Company
- Establishment of Sekondi/Takoradi Chamber of Commerce in Boston.
- Exchange programme for city officials, school children, teachers etc.
- Supply of medical and educational materials to institution such as Effia Nkwanta and Kwesimtsim Hospitals, Fijai Secondary School, Methodist Secondary School.
- Training workshops
- Workshop on Economic competitiveness with funding from USAID through solfolk University and Cape Coast University for members of Chamber of Commerce and other businessmen.
- Capacity building for SAEMA heads of Departments.
- Establishment of 40,000USD fabrication laboratory (FabLab) at Takoradi Technical Institute by MIT.
- Proposals for the establishment of plastic recycling plant in Takoradi (Global Plastic).
OAKLAND - SEKONDI - TAKORADI
The link with Oakland started as far back as 1975 but there was nothing concrete until few years ago when attempt were made to reorganise the relation.
Achievements
- Donation of two ambulances and a number of hospital beds through Links Incorporated, Oakland Bay Area Chapter that has a special link with the people of Essikadu.
- The same group had also adopted the Anoe Community of all the necessary assistance
- A visit by a delegation led by the formal Regional Minister (Hon. Joseph Bahene-Addo) to Oakland to explore avenues of business between the people of Western Region and Oakland. The visit had so far yielded a lot of benefits.
- A research by University of Cape Coast in the Shama Sub-Metro with support from Sol Fork University in Boston. A component of this project involved computer skills training for staff of the Assembly.
- Grant of $10,000 dollars for HIV AIDS project
Plymouth Link
SEKONDI - TAKORADI - PLYMOUTH
 The Sekondi/Takoradi/Plymouth link was established in 2003 to Forster cooperation between the two cities in the area of Cultural and Educational exchange, Sports development, Economic Co-operation and Investment. This is more of a people to people cooperation where various interest groups in Plymouth and Sekondi/Takoradi, tend to enter into a mutual friendship
Uniqueness
This link was also necessitated when it was released that Plymouth has no sister city in Africa. It is significant to note that Sekondi Takoradi was chosen by our counterpart in Plymouth, from among sixty cities across Africa. The then Ghana High Commissioner in U.K. His. Excellency Isaac Osei requested Sekondi/Takoradi to send a profile which tends to have a lot of similarities with Plymouth.
Achievements
- Annual exchange programme from both sides of the Link for the teachers and students.
- Establishment of computer and internet Link Centre at Ahantaman Secondary School.
- Medical exchange and outreach programmes.
- Six nurses from Sekondi/Takoradi undertook capacity building programme at Derriford Hospital in 2006.
- Extablishment of Hernia Centre at Takoradi Hospital at the cost of 10,000 pounds sterling.
- Extablishment of Artificial lamp fitting centre at Supomu Dunkwa in Shama Sub-Metro Council.
- Extablishment of football team through technical cooperation with Plymouth Argyle.
- Training of two officials of National Sports Council in Stadium and Grounds management.
- Tourism development project with a grant from Commonwealth Local Government forum through partnership with Hibiscus coast city of South African. Visitor’s information centres and establishment of 36 whole Golf park in Secondi.
Structure of Partnership
Each partnership has its own peculiarities and demand specific structures to make the partnership succeed. In Sekondi/Takoradi, we have a sister city committee drawn from the staff of Assembly, Assembly members and community leaders.
Plymouth link is more or less community based initiative drawing its membership from communities with support from the city council. Boston is a mixture of both private individuals and city authorities driving the initiative forward.
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