Liberian Council of Mayors Forging a Global Alliance and Partnership for Sister Cities Relations

Mayors across scores of cities in Liberia have held collaborative engagements with international partners on the formation of sister city alliances. A high-power delegation from the United States, led by Mr. Robert Ford and Dr. James Allen of the World Council of Mayors, has been having a series of consultative meetings in this regard.

The World Conference of Mayors was founded by former Tuskegee Mayor Johnny Ford of Alabama. Mayor Ford inspired the formation of this alliance to foster better collaboration among mayors, especially African Americans. 

Over the last two weeks, Dr. Allen and Mr. Ford, with support from the national coordinator of the World Conference of Mayors, Prof. Weade Kobbah Boley, have been engaging mayors in Liberian Cities and crafting ways to form partnerships with cities in the United States. Though an NGO, the Liberian Council of Mayors encompasses all city mayors, past and present in Liberia. The goal is to galvanize support, collaboration, and innovation from sister cities around the world. 

Plans are underway to invite several mayors from Liberia to the United States for a global conference slated for January 24 to 29, 2024 in Orlando Florida. The Team met with the City Mayor of Bensonville, Martha Woheel, Cecelia Haillie mayor of Foya, Mayor Clinton Brown from Totota, and Mayor Amos Suah from Gompa City. Others were Mayor Garmai Gbelee of Zorzor, Mayor Maima Kamara of Sanniquillie, Mayor Samuel M. Berrian of Unification Town, and Mayor Korto Harris of Voinjama. 

The Liberian Council of Mayors encompasses past, current, and future mayors of Liberian cities. The inclusion of both past and present mayors is to collaborate on incoming development projects.

The mayors expressed thanks and gratitude to the Delegation and promised continuous cooperation to improve their cities. On behalf of their colleagues, acting Chairperson Madam Martha Woheel and acting Secretary Korto Harris expressed optimism about the initiative.

Drs Ford and Allen are also holding discussions with education stakeholders in Liberia to refocus the African group’s interest in educational partnerships.