On behalf of the Birmingham-Ghana Sister Cities Committee, we bid you an eager "Akwaaba", which means a spirited and warm "Welcome" in Ghana-West Africa!
Birmingham’s newest sister cities relationship is quickly establishing a notable foundation of service and positive cultural exchange here in the Magic City and in Winneba, Ghana.
Nestled along the warm tropical waters of the Gulf of Guinea on the red soiled land of Ghana; Winneba is a historic and vibrant fishing town located just 35 miles west of the capitol city of Accra. Winneba is known for its fishing and pottery trades, the University of Education , smiling faces as well as the elaborate, annual musical deer-hunting Aboakyer festival.
Birmingham City Councilman Roderick Royal and Birmingham Sister Cities Director Scotty Colson led a delegation of Birmingham city and community leaders to Ghana for a cultural/economic exchange visit in April of 2008. Winneba's Chief Neenyi Ghartey VII visited the Magic City in 2008 and was warmly welcomed by Birmingham City leaders and a host of community leaders at a public reception at Tabernacle Baptist Church. During his visit, Birmingham City leaders awarded Chief Ghartey with the key to the City of Birmingham and the Birmingham- Ghana (Winneba) Sister City relationship was publicly recognized and approved at a Birmingham City Council Meeting.
For years, Birmingham citizens, have created a strong service oriented relationship with Winneba town leaders and locals. Tabernacle Baptist Church along with assistance from members of various churches pioneered one of the first large scale service projects called “Project Ghana”, which involves building a public library, medical outreach in Winneba and other service-oriented projects.
Through education, cultural exchange and service commitment, the Birmingham-Ghana(Winneba) Sister Cities committee looks forward to building a long lasting relationship with Winneba all while providing opportunities for people to experience a rewarding social and economic exchange like no other.
The Birmingham Sister Cities Commission: Ghana Committee will take six Birmingham area
high school students to Ghana, West Africa, in June 2011 as part of the inaugural Birmingham-Winneba, Ghana Sister Cities global student exchange trip on June 23- July 2, 2011.
The goal of this project is to educate students on the importance of supporting antipollution initiatives, global cooperation and cultural development between the students of the Birmingham metropolitan community and communities in Ghana. This hands on global exchange with Ghanaian students will help develop effective leaders poised to address key social issues.
The 2011 class of leaders represent five different high schools in the metropolitan area. The students are Tonisha Gallimore of Jackson-Olin High School; Chandria McCurdy of Ramsay High School; Imani Anderson and Jillian Claire Hamilton of The Altamont School; Khrystena Bonner of Clay-Chalkville High School and Caitlin Thomas of Alabama School of Fine Arts.
When the leaders return they will share their experience with peers at their respective schools, highlighting the education, cultural and social components of their travels in Ghana. You can stay up to date on the BGLYG's travel experience on various articles and first hand reports on http://www.al.com/travel/.
-Project Ghana: A missionary group led by Tabernacle Baptist Church’s Pastor Christopher Hamlin is presently building a library in the Winneba community. The mission trIp to Winneba is scheduled for June 17- June 27, 2010. Contact Pastor Hamlin at (205) 324-5305 for further information.
A cultural exchange trip to Winneba is being planned for Spring 2010. Contact All Africa Expeditions’ Albert Anson at (205) 383-4641 or Toll free:1-866-756-1379 for more information.
Akwaaba Reception: An informal reception introducing the Birmingham- Winneba Sister City partnership and the celebrating the official signing will be held on November 15, 2009 at the Birmingham Museum of Art from 3:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m. For more information about the event or RSVP please e-mail Cherrye Parker at Birminghamghana.sistercities@gmail.com .
