Resolution brings Accra, Ghana closer to Sister City relationship with Kansas City

By Tony Madden

A Ghanaian victory call rang out through City Council chambers on March 5 as Kansas City passed a resolution honoring the city’s cultural, historical and economic ties to Accra, Ghana. The resolution, sponsored by 5th District Councilwoman and Mayor Pro Tem Ryana Parks-Shaw, also honors Ghana’s Independence Day.

Accra has a connection to south Kansas City, specifically to Parks-Shaw and the Hickman Mills C-1 School District. The Mayor Pro Tem was one of five leaders who joined a student delegation to Ghana in 2024 for a cultural enrichment and diplomatic event, according to past Telegraph reporting. Other leaders included then-Superintendent Yaw Obeng, who was born in Ghana; then-school board president Irene Kendrick; State Rep. Anthony Ealy; Ruskin High School Principal Dr. Ernest Fields; and Mike Ross, who teaches AP African American Studies at Ruskin.

The trip included a meeting with Elizabeth Naa Kwatsoe Tawiah Sackey, Accra’s then-mayor who expressed interest in a Sister City partnership with Kansas City. Kansas City Sister Cities currently recognizes 13 Sister Cities, three of which are located on the African continent. They are Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Arusha, Tanzania; and Freetown, Sierra Leone.

At the March 5 meeting, Councilwoman Melissa Robinson of the 3rd District took a point of personal privilege to thank the Mayor Pro Tem for her leadership in passing such a resolution. She also shared her appreciation of a Ghana statute that entitles Ghanaian citizenship to anyone who can prove their ancestors came from Africa. She noted Ghana paused that program in early February.

“It is truly an amazing moment as we just finished celebrating African American History month,” Robinson said. “…Recognizing African Americans in our homeland and encouraging us to come back home — it’s been amazing.”

The Ghanaian community was well represented at the March 5 council meeting by Ghanaians affiliated with KC Sister Cities. Also in attendance was educator Dr. Cobina Lartson, who leads the organization Ghanaians in Greater Kansas City.

“Thank you for honoring the Ghanaian community with this proclamation,” Dr. Lartson said. “It means to us that whenever we are celebrating our independence, we remember that we have friends celebrating with us. And that is Kansas City.”

Ghana’s independence from British rule is celebrated each year on March 6. In 1957, Ghana became the first sub-Saharan nation to gain independence from colonial rule, sparking similar movements across Africa.

Kansas City is considering a formal establishment of the relationship with Accra via ordinance, the resolution says. A formal Sister City partnership with Accra could open both cities up to more pathways for trade, business, education, cultural exchange and tourism.

“Kansas City and Accra, Ghana share key similarities as regional economic anchors, centers for entrepreneurship, both investing in workforce development, technology, infrastructure and small business growth as part of their long-term strategies for economic competitiveness, and sharing vibrant arts and music communities and diverse populations that contribute to each city’s cultural identity and global outlook,” the resolution says.

Dr. Lartson also shared a piece of folklore with the council, saying Ghanaians believe Ghana is at the center of the world. This is geographically true, as the country lies just north of the coordinates 0°N, 0°E. However, the country also believes this is where God stood as he distributed resources across the planet, which is said to explain Ghana’s vast natural resources.

“We have everything — human and natural resources, and I think that is something that opens the opportunity for a good Sister City relationship between Accra and Kansas City,” Dr. Lartson said.