Mayor of Kumasi Pledges Stronger International Cooperation as Dortmund Officials Tour Key Initiatives

choicenewsonline7 hours ago

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The Mayor of Kumasi, Hon. Richard Kwasi Ofori Boadi Agyemang, has reaffirmed the city’s commitment to deepening its long-standing partnership with the City of Dortmund, following a courtesy visit by a high-level delegation from Germany. The delegation, led by Mr. Ailko Wichman, Director of Procurement for Dortmund, was accompanied by representatives from GIZ and POLAS, who are key partners in ongoing development initiatives between the two cities.

The visit formed part of Dortmund’s continuous engagement with Kumasi on climate action, skills development, women’s economic empowerment, and cultural exchange—areas that have defined their collaboration for many years.

Addressing the meeting, Mr. Wichman expressed Dortmund’s gratitude for the sustained cooperation, noting that the city places high value on its relationship with Kumasi. He emphasized that transparency remains crucial to the success of their joint projects, particularly the women empowerment initiative being implemented with UNI-JAY Ltd. He added that Dortmund looks forward to the possibility of Ghanaian products, especially those produced through the partnership, finding space in European markets.

Mr. Wichman also conveyed warm greetings from the Mayor of Dortmund to the Mayor of Kumasi and the people of the metropolis, reaffirming Dortmund’s commitment to strengthening the bilateral relationship.

Mrs. Janet Abobigu, CEO of UNI-JAY Ltd and a beneficiary of the empowerment programme, expressed heartfelt appreciation to the KMA and its German partners for the trust and support extended to her company. She described the initiative as transformative, explaining that it will enhance practical training for students, reduce youth unemployment, and equip young women with lifelong skills for sustainable livelihoods. She pledged UNI-JAY’s continued dedication to delivering quality training and contributing meaningfully to the local economy.

Mayor Ofori-Agyemang Boadi, in his response, praised Dortmund and its partners for their unwavering support. He noted that although he inherited the cooperation, he remains fully committed to nurturing and expanding it for the benefit of Kumasi. He highlighted Germany’s significant contributions to the city, citing the €6 million support provided to the Kumasi Technical Institute (KTI) to enhance technical training through modern equipment and tools.

The Mayor further expressed confidence that the partnership with UNI-JAY will boost both local and national development, particularly as the central government intensifies investment in the garment and textile industry. He revealed that government has already allocated resources to revive and expand the sector, with three regions selected to benefit from the initiative.

The visit concluded with both parties reaffirming their dedication to strengthening the Kumasi–Dortmund cooperation, emphasizing shared values, mutual respect, and a commitment to impactful development.