Sister City Committee Visits Ghana

Keeping Ties With Our Sister City

Hanover Park has had a Sister City relationship with Cape Coast, Ghana in West Africa since 1991. Recently a delegation led by Village Trustee Robert Packham spent two weeks in Cape Coast, and met with the Mayor, the City Manager, members of the Municipal Assembly, the Regional Minister’s staff, and the Traditional Council of Chiefs. The delegation followed-up on several on-going projects. One of the more important ones is the construction of a playroom annex to the children's ward at the District Hospital. The cost of materials came from private funds, and the local labor is being provided by hospital staff. When completed, the children will be able to leave their beds and move to an area where they can play or read or just enjoy the sun.

Another special visit was to Hanover Park Primary School, where we caused great excitement by delivering soccer uniforms, complete with the school’s crest (which is identical to our village logo). Through the generosity Sarson Sports USA, extra items were included. The company’s representative, former Ghana Black Stars “footballer” George Gorleku, made the presentation amid loud cheers from the students.

The delegation paid a visit to the Regional Police Headquarters and saw the on-site domestic violence counseling center where Hanover Park Sister City had provided chairs and a large open-sided tent where women can sit in shade while they wait their turn to be interviewed. Previously, they had to sit on the bare ground under a blazing sun.

Two members of our delegation deserve particular recognition. Cathy Radcliffe, Principal at Elsie Johnson School, wanted to learn about the educational system in Ghana. She spent several hours each day visiting both public and private schools, talking with students, teachers, head masters, and staff on the similarities and differences between the American and Ghanaian systems. Resident Jennifer Vosyka also accompanied our group to fulfill a promise she made in 1996, to visit again with the people she lived among for two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in a small village just a few miles from Cape Coast.

To learn more about our Sister Cities activities, contact Kim Benedix in the Village Manager’s office. Textiles and beads from our Sister City are available through Ontarioville Art Gallery.