The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Trinidad and Tobago’s capital city, Port of Spain, as part of bilateral moves to strengthen socioeconomic trades and partnership.
The two cities, Kumasi and Port of Spain of Trinidad and Tobago, are exploring more creative ways to harness tourism potentials for economic bonds and sustainable development.
Kumasi mayor Samuel Payne on Friday, October 28 together with his counterpart from Port of Spain, Alderman Joel Matrinez, appended their signatures to an MOU between the two cities to cement the bilateral agreements.
Whiles signing the MOU, Mr Payne was confident that with both countries sharing many things in common, the agreement will center on the need to explore cultural heritages, social lifestyles and tourism potentials of both Ghana and Trinidad and Tobago.
After signing for their respective cities, both Sam Pyne and His Worship Joel Martinez expressed happiness about the economic opportunities to concretize their relationship and to also chart a new path future mayors of the two cities could explore for the benefit of their peoples.
Addressing the media after the signing the MOU at a brief ceremony, Port of Spain City Mayor expalined he was excited about the prospects of the new relationship with Kumasi City.
“After initial talks with the Kumasi Mayor, I realized both cities share so many things in common which could be explored further and harnessed for the benefits of our people.”
He revealed that he shares the same vision with the Kumasi Mayor who wants to utilize the tourism potentials in Kumasi to ensure socioeconomic mutual benefits.
His Worship Joel Martinez explained that “strikingly, we both realized that we share so much in common in both cultural and social aspects of our cities and it is with so much delight that along these identified similarities we would be exploring many others such as trade and commerce for our common good’’.
Kumasi mayor Samuel Payne, who was filled with gratification and delight, noted that “the KMA cherishes the opportunity we are about to tap into to explore potentials the city has and that of Port of Spain. I am confident this ties will go a long way to benefit my people especially the tourism opportunities it comes with”.
The Mayor of Port of Spain City visited Ghana with delegation from the tourism ministry of Trinidad and Tobago among other high officials.
The delegation earlier paid courtesy call on the overlord of Ashanti Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Otumfour Osei Tutu II, at Manhyia Palace to seek for his blessings and counsel on their intentions to strike a bond with City of Kumasi and tap into Ashanti’s rich and preserved culture.
As part of moves to seal the MOU, there will be a street carnival in Kumasi on Saturday, October 29 to showcase the rich culture of Trinidad and Tobago.
The street carnival will kick start from Cultural Centre at Bantama then there will be a procession through Kumasi’s principal streets to Adum then to Asafo where there will be performances of libation and other cultural rites.