Tarkwa-Nsuaem Member of Parliament, Hon. George Mireku Duker has met with the CHARGÉ D’AFFAIRES of the Australian High Commission, Ms. Leann Johnston, to build a longstanding relationship between his constituency and Australia.

Ms. Leann Johnston, in the company of Hon. Mireku Duker, paid a courtesy call on the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) during the visit to the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality.

In a speech delivered by the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Richard Amankwah, he expressed his full support for the initiative of building a strong sister-city relationship with the Australian nation.

Addressing the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Assembly, Hon. Mireku Duker also indicated that sister-city relations between Tarkwa and an Australian City will "help boost mutual relations in the areas of; 1. Bilateral Business and Trade (Mining); 2. Educational Exchange programmes; 3. Cultural Exchanges and 4. Developmental Projects".

"The Ghana-Australian Business Week shall be established and held annually at Tarkwa which shall serve as a springboard for mutual benefits especially in the area of Australia business interests in Mining", he added.

Read statement below:

HON. DUKER ENGAGES AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION, SISTER-CITY RELATION KICKSTARTS
➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖

Hon. Duker writes,

On Friday, May 20, 2022, I led Ms. Leann Johnston, CHARGÉ D’AFFAIRES of the Australian High Commission representing the Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, to the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality.

The visit initiated by my office, is purposely to build a long-lasting sister-city relationship between Tarkwa-Nsuaem and another city in Australia.

We paid a courtesy call on the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), where the Vice Chancellor Prof. Richard Amankwah, in his speech, expressed his full support for the initiative and indicated that, the University is ready to associate with the vision of the sister city activities.

Addressing the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Assembly, I touched briefly on the history of mining within the Municipality which dates back to the 1620s, establishing the striking similarity between Ghana and Australia as Mineral endowed Countries.

Further, projections indicates that, the Tarkwa-Nsuaem enclave accounts for about 40% of total gold produced in Ghana as of 2020, hosting the country's only Manganese Mine, hence a significant backbone of Ghana’s Economy.

I acknowledged the already relationship that exists between Ghana and Australia and impact made by the High Commission and Australian Companies in Ghana through supporting lot of social projects, interventions (such as scholarships) and accompanied benefits to the nation through employment generation, revenue, royalties payment and other levies respectively.

I indicated that, establishIing a sister-city relations between Tarkwa and an Australian City will help boost mutual relations in the areas of;

1. Bilateral Business and Trade (Mining);

2. Educational Exchange programmes;

3. Cultural Exchanges and

4. Developmental Projects.

The Ghana-Australian Business Week shall be established and held annually at Tarkwa which shall serve as a springboard for mutual benefits especially in the area of Australia business interests in Mining.

Addressing the Assembly, the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Benjamin Kessie, indicated the Assembly's readiness to welcome the sister-city initiative, which is rooted in the Assembly's mandate and believes that, it will help improve on socioeconomic development between parties if established.

Ms. Leann Johnston in her speech, indicated the readiness of the Australian High Commission to prioritize this engagement and make it a success.

Together we shall make Tarkwa-Nsuaem great.

Thank you.