The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), in partnership with the European Union (EU) and the Municipality of Palermo, Italy, has officially closed the Twin-Cities in Sustainable Partnership Project (TCSPP) at a colorful ceremony held at Akroma Plaza, Takoradi.
The event was attended by traditional leaders, representatives of the EU Delegation to Ghana, officials from STMA, civil society groups, the media, and beneficiaries of the project.
The program began with formal courtesies and acknowledgment of dignitaries, including:
- Hon. Frederick Festinous Faidoo, Metropolitan Chief Executive of Sekondi-Takoradi
- Silvia Severi, Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation to Ghana
- Delegates from the Municipality of Palermo, Italy
- Traditional rulers, assembly members, project beneficiaries, and representatives of community-based organizations
Mr. Isaac Aidoo, Project Coordinator, delivered the opening remarks, highlighting the vision, scope, and journey of the Twin-Cities Project. He emphasized that the initiative was not just a funding intervention but a partnership grounded in knowledge sharing, innovation, and community ownership.
“From inception in 2022, the aim was to improve urban governance, strengthen climate resilience, and create sustainable livelihoods. Today, we can proudly say that the project has touched 13,304 lives directly. The successes we see are not only numbers but stories of women empowered, youth trained, communities supported, and policies strengthened,” he noted.
Mr. Aidoo also expressed gratitude to the EU and the Municipality of Palermo for their commitment, describing the collaboration as a model of decentralized cooperation that has proven successful in Ghana.
Mayor Faidoo: A Call for Sustainability
Taking his turn, Hon. Frederick Festinous Faidoo, Mayor of Sekondi-Takoradi, commended the tangible results of the project.
“The project has delivered practical solutions in urban governance, climate resilience, and livelihood opportunities. I have directed the Development Planning Office to design a sustainability plan, ensuring these interventions are maintained and expanded in 2026 and beyond,” he said.
The Mayor further praised the Assembly’s improved fiscal and governance systems under the project, which saw STMA’s ranking rise from 38th in 2021 to 3rd in 2023 among Ghana’s 261 assemblies.
EU Delegation Commends Lasting Change
On behalf of the European Union, Silvia Severi, Head of Cooperation, applauded the project for creating both immediate and long-term impacts:
“This project has not only transformed lives in Sekondi-Takoradi but has also built a bridge of solidarity between Europe and Ghana. The fruits—literally, the 10,810 fruits—will continue to grow, as will the skills, enterprises, and partnerships we planted together,” she remarked.
She emphasized that the project’s interventions — from climate clubs and social enterprises to eco-friendly ovens and toilets — would endure well beyond the project’s official closure.
Key Achievements of the Twin-Cities Project
Over the three-year period, the project delivered remarkable outcomes:
- Health & Wellbeing: Construction of three youth-friendly health centers.
- Sanitation & Inclusion: 500 household toilets for vulnerable groups (elderly, single mothers, PWDs).
- Climate Action & Food Security: Planting of 10,810 fruit trees.
- Green Livelihoods: Establishment of 14 social enterprises and a green skills hub.
- Support for Fisherfolk: Distribution of 120 eco-friendly ovens.
- Youth Empowerment: Creation of 17 climate school clubs and reintegration of school dropouts.
- Governance & Training: 401 stakeholders trained in participatory governance and urban management.
Legacy and the Future
Although the project has officially ended, both the EU Delegation and STMA assured the public that its impacts will remain visible. A comprehensive sustainability plan, coupled with budget allocations in upcoming Assembly years, will ensure that the gains continue to expand.
“This is not an ending,” Mayor Faidoo concluded. “It is the beginning of a greener, fairer, and more resilient future for Sekondi-Takoradi.”