Ghana link develops with South Molton

devon.editorial@archant.co.uk

TWINNING links between South Molton and the Ghanaian region of Shama have received a massive boost following a special visit this month.

Francis Mensah, from the Shama Sister City Commission, has been visiting North Devon in order to develop the link between the two areas.

While in the region, he met with South Molton Mayor, Cllr Stephen Lock, North Devon MP Nick Harvey, as well as Devon County Council leader Brian Greenslade, North Devon Council leader Mike Harrison, and many organisations in the South Molton area.

As revealed in the Gazette in November last year, South Molton Town Councillors have already agreed to establish relations with the West African rural area, roughly one-fifth the size of North Devon.

Mayor Cllr Stephen Lock will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Shama District chief executive Joseph Amoah later this year.

“I am planning to visit Shama in the near future to sign the Sister City agreement with the Shama District on behalf of the South Molton area,” said Cllr Lock.

“This signing will be witnessed by the president of the African Sister City Commission and it will be really interesting to meet the people of the area including their Mayor and council.”

The fledgling friendship between the two areas was sparked by South Molton Cllr David Worden, who visited Ghana last October.

“I am delighted at the welcome Francis Mensah has received,” he said.

“People everywhere have been amazing in their enthusiasm for the development of the partnership between the two areas.

Schools, churches, businesses, parish councils and different organisations have agreed to investigate ways of communicating with similar groups in Shama and it is hoped that exchanges will take place in the near future.