THE Obuasi Municipal Assembly has signed a sister-city agreement with the Riverside City Council of California, USA, aimed at promoting education, culture and commerce between the two cities.
In line with the agreement, a joint citrus plantation would be established at Obuasi, which would create jobs for the people.
In all, two agreements were signed. In one of them, the Municipal Co-ordinating Director, Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu, signed for the assembly while Dr Latif Acharya, the International Relations Officer at the office of the Mayor of Riverside City, initialled for Riverside.
In the other agreement, Mr Osei Amo-Mensah and Baffour Boakye, secretary and vice president respectively, signed for the Obuasi Sister Cities International, a non-governmental organisation, signed for their group while Dr Moses Vince, Madam Katrie Greene and Mr Robert Airttart, all of the Riverside Sister Cities International, initialled for their group.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Government Spokesperson for finance and economy, Mr Kwaku Kwarteng, who was the guest of honour, said economic partnership agreements of that nature presented viable opportunities for the parties.
He noted that the citizen-to-citizen relationship that the sister-city concept promoted, was one of the surest ways of achieving a better understanding between different groups of people.
Mr Kwarteng emphasised that the fertile lands within Obuasi could be of interest to investors from Riverside, a situation that could result in inflow of capital and technology into the local economy.
He stressed on the economic gains of the nation in the last seven years and said the local communities must take advantage to strike partnerships that would bring further benefits to them.
Mr Kwarteng urged the leadership of the Obuasi-Riverside partnership not to hesitate to approach the government for any assistance when there was the need to do so.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Obuasi, Mr Edward Ennin, gave the assurance that he would facilitate the acquisition of land for the citrus project.
He also promised that he would help in sourcing for funds for the project.
Mr Ennin expressed the hope that the bond of friendship would be sustained to yield the expected benefits for the parties.
In a speech read on behalf of Mr Prince Kwame Kludjeson, the President of the Africa Global Sister Cities Foundation, by the administrator of the foundation, Nana Kena Otchere, he gave the assurance that his group would give full support to the new relationship between the two cities.
For his part, Dr Vince was optimistic of the growth of the relationship and therefore urged the parties to work hard towards the success of the relationship.
He spoke about Ashanti's rich culture and said his side would explore that area for mutual benefits.
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