Mayor of London makes historic visit to Ga Mantse, pledges new era of partnership

In a landmark gesture of diplomacy and cultural respect, the Mayor of London, Rt. Hon. Sadiq Khan, has paid a historic courtesy call on His Royal Majesty King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Ga Mantse and President of the Ga Traditional Council, at his palace in Accra.

The visit marks the first time a sitting Mayor of London has undertaken an official visit to Africa, underscoring a renewed commitment to forging deeper ties between London and key African cities.

"This is, as you've ascertained, my first time in Accra — and the first time ever that a Mayor of London has visited Africa on official business," Mr. Khan said, expressing his gratitude for the warm reception extended to him and his delegation.

During the engagement, Mayor Khan commended the Ga Mantse for his unwavering leadership in promoting unity, preserving culture, and creating opportunities for the youth of Ghana.

He praised Accra’s creative vibrancy and entrepreneurial spirit, highlighting the shared values and aspirations between London and the Ghanaian capital.

"Over the last few days in Accra, I’ve come to realise that our two cities — London and Accra — have a lot in common: our boundless creative energy, our passion for music, food and culture, and our bold spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship," Khan stated.

The Mayor also addressed the heavy historical ties between London and Ghana, referencing his visit to Osu Castle, one of the key sites in the transatlantic slave trade.

"It’s an uncomfortable truth that London played a key role in the organisation and funding of the transatlantic slave trade," he acknowledged.

"Visiting Osu Castle and seeing the ‘door of no return’ was a profound experience — a stark reminder of an unfathomable injustice."

Despite this difficult shared past, Mr. Khan struck a tone of hope and reconciliation, expressing optimism about building a future grounded in mutual trust, respect, and opportunity.

"Standing here, I feel optimistic that despite our difficult past, our two cities — our two nations — are ready to write a new chapter as equal partners," he said.

"We must recognise the burden of our history but refuse to be defined by it."

The Mayor concluded by thanking the Ga Mantse and the Ga Traditional Council for their hospitality and pledged to strengthen ties between London and Accra through future partnerships in culture, innovation, education, and trade.

His visit to Ghana is part of a broader African tour that includes Lagos, Johannesburg, and Cape Town — aimed at deepening city-to-city cooperation and investment dialogue across the continent.

His Royal Majesty King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Ga Mantse and President of the Ga Traditional Council, on his part, extended a warm welcome to Rt. Hon. Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, during a historic visit to the Ga Mantse Palace in Accra.

The Ga Mantse hailed the visit as a significant milestone in strengthening ties between Accra and London, two cities bound by shared history, values, and growing diasporic connections.

“London represents a promising collaborative partnership for Accra,” the King stated.

“Your city is globally recognised as a beacon of cultural diversity, a hub of innovation, and a destination for tourism and sports.”

The Ga Mantse highlighted the deep historical connections between the two cities, citing longstanding Ga communities such as Jamestown, Osu-La, Tema, and Katamanso as living legacies of this shared heritage.

These communities, he said, reflect not only a common past but also untapped potential for investment, particularly in sectors like fisheries and waste-to-food production.

“A prime example is our fishing industry, which would benefit immensely from technology transfer and the expansion of coastal infrastructure like landing sites and harbours,” he noted.

His Royal Majesty also drew attention to the emerging energy and ambition of Accra’s youth, describing them as tech-savvy, globally aware, and increasingly positioned for collaboration in high-growth sectors, including cognitive AI technologies.

“Thousands of Ghanaians call London home, while many Londoners have enjoyed Ghana’s famous hospitality. This people-to-people bond is a strong foundation for a sustainable city partnership,” the King said.

He proposed the establishment of an accredited city exchange programme between Accra and London, focused on best practices in waste management, urban development, and skills transfer, noting that both cities could benefit from shared learning.

"Just like London, we want to develop Accra into a safe, sustainable, future-proof city that works for its people—within the context of our culture, traditions, and norms,” he said.

The Ga Mantse expressed hope that Mayor Khan’s visit would serve as a springboard for mutual development, promoting economic stability, enhanced security cooperation, and inclusive growth.

“We look forward to a long-lasting and fruitful relationship between our cities,” he concluded, extending a warm cultural invitation.

“And we pray that you will try to taste some of our staple foods before you leave here.”

Mayor Khan's visit to Accra is part of a four-city African tour that includes stops in Lagos, Johannesburg, and Cape Town, aimed at fostering deeper bilateral ties, trade partnerships, and innovation exchanges between London and key African cities.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith