Written by: Badr Ahmed

Ghanaian Deputy Foreign Minister James Gyakke Quayson participated as part of a high-level official delegation headed by the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Professor Nana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, in the Homecoming Conference on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of Sister Cities International, which was hosted by the American capital, Washington, during the period from July 22 to 25, 2026.

The Ghanaian delegation’s participation came in response to an official invitation from the International Sister Cities Organization. The delegation included, in addition to the Vice President, the Minister of Local Government, Traditional Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, and Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, along with a number of senior government officials.

Details of Ghana's participation in the Sister Cities Conference

The conference saw broad participation from government leaders, mayors, diplomats, representatives of international organizations, academia, the business sector, and civil society organizations, to discuss the growing role of city diplomacy in promoting international cooperation, achieving sustainable development, driving economic growth, and deepening relations between peoples.

The Vice President of Ghana delivered the keynote address at the opening session, during which she affirmed her country’s commitment to strengthening international partnerships through city diplomacy, noting that city twinning agreements represent an effective tool for promoting trade and investment, revitalizing tourism, supporting innovation and technology transfer, expanding educational exchange, as well as enhancing the capacity to cope with climate change and achieve sustainable urban development.

The visit program included the delegation’s participation in the African Regional Forum, the presidential luncheon, a mediation session between mayors to establish new partnerships, meetings with officials of the International Sister Cities Organization, and a meeting with members of the Ghanaian community at the residence of the Ghanaian ambassador in Washington.

The program also included visits to the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Eisenhower Memorial Center, as part of the cultural activities accompanying the conference.

The International Organization of Sister Cities (IOSCO) was founded in 1956 to promote peace, mutual understanding, and international cooperation through public diplomacy and direct relations between cities. The 70th anniversary conference marked a significant milestone, reviewing seven decades of international municipal cooperation and exploring opportunities for practical partnerships in trade, investment, education, culture, innovation, public health, digital transformation, climate action, and sustainable urban development.

The Ghanaian government affirmed that its participation in the conference is in line with its foreign policy objectives, which focus on strengthening economic diplomacy, supporting decentralization, expanding multilateral cooperation, and deepening communication with Ghanaian communities abroad, in order to contribute to achieving comprehensive and sustainable national development.