In occupied Sukhumi, an “agreement” on sister-city relations was concluded with a suburb in the Republic of Ghana, which is called Suhum (Suhum Municipal District) and which was established as a district in 2012.
To sign the “document,” a traditional representative of the Ghanaian municipality, Barima Amoako Darko — a tribal chief who heads the Traditional Council of the Suhum suburb — arrived in Abkhazia.
In Ghana, there is an institution of traditional rulers — chiefs, kings, and traditional councils. However, officially, Ghana is a presidential republic.
Chiefs in Ghana are not equated to state positions such as mayor or governor, but they hold cultural and social influence.
In the occupied region of Georgia and in one of Ghana’s municipalities, it is believed that the sister-city relationship will become an instrument of “people’s diplomacy” and will be aimed at “strengthening peace and interethnic harmony.”
Sukhumi and the Ghanaian Suhum intend to cooperate in the fields of economy, education, science, culture, tourism, healthcare, ecology, and sports, as well as exchange experience at the level of “governing bodies” and hold joint cultural and sporting events.
