The former Mayor of Accra, Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, has stated that a 30-member delegation from Columbus, Ohio, led by a former mayor of the city, is in Accra to strengthen cultural and educational ties between the two cities.
Mr Vanderpuije was speaking to journalists after a meeting with the delegation. He said the partnership began in November 2015 when both cities signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote cooperation.
The delegation, made up of artists, teachers and educators, is in Accra to experience Ghanaian culture and explore opportunities for student and teacher exchange programmes.
“November 15, 2015, we were in Columbus, Ohio, to sign a memorandum of understanding to bring the two cities together. The two cities are embedded in their people, the people of Accra and the people of Columbus, Ohio.
“Today [March 9, 2026], we have 30 group members from the city of Columbus, Ohio, visiting Accra. Their focus is on art and culture, and we are very happy to have them here, led by the former mayor with whom we started this great relationship.
“They want to see the best of our culture, and it’s good that we also see the best of their culture. They have already enjoyed what they are seeing.
“They are enjoying it; they have teachers and educators here who are also learning from what they see here. You know, they say Accra has the best because Columbus has a strong African-American community. They derive their culture from what they see here in Ghana,” he said.
