Plymouth to help partner city in Africa

Plymouth City Council is to help its partner city in Africa develop its tourism industry.

The Council’s Tourism Services Manager Peter Roberts and Nature Conservation Officer Alistair Macpherson have headed out to our partner city in Ghana, Sekondi-Takoradi.

The pair will spend a week talking to officials and drawing up an action plan to help the region develop its tourism trade without harming its environment.

The trip is being paid for through a Commonwealth Local Government Forum grant worth £5,000. It is hoped the action plan they draw up will open the doors to more Department for International Development funding to lay the foundations for a thriving but environmentally sensitive tourist industry for Sekondi-Takoradi.

The link between Plymouth and Sekondi-Takoradi is two years old and groups have travelled to Western Ghana to cement relationships between schools, health workers, Rotary and football clubs.  

Peter Roberts said: “The two cities have a lot in common. Both are on the coast, both are regional capitals which are quite a distance away from their capital cities and are around the same size. This is a chance for Plymouth to play its part on the world stage and help a city in a developing country. It is a perfect example of us showing we can be a cit of the world.

“Tourism is in its infancy there and this is a chance to make a contribution to a developing country. Ghana is hosting the Africa Cup of Nations in 2008, using Sekondi as one of their stadiums. This is a great opportunity for them.”

Alistair added: “The area is surrounded by superb beaches and coastal wetlands which are key assets for future tourism. We hope this exchange of technical expertise between our two cities will contribute to sustainable development for the local community.”

For more information on Plymouth’s links with Sekondi-Takoradi click here.

16 March 2005