By Emmanuel Gamson
Takoradi, Oct. 9, GNA – The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) has been selected among four cities globally, to participate in the inaugural United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Venice Winter School in Italy.
The event, scheduled to take place in Venice from October 20 to 22, 2026, would also be attended by Salvador de Bahia in Brazil, New York City in United States of America (USA), and the City of Singapore, in the Republic of Singapore, following a competitive global selection process by the UNDP’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Local Action Initiative.
It would provide a platform for city leaders, senior local government officials, and practitioners from around the world to examine practical, experience-based approaches to strengthening local public service delivery.
A statement signed by Mr Isaac Aidoo, the STMA Coordinator for the UNDP Venice Winter School, and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said Sekondi-Takoradi’s selection and participation in the Winter School was anchored on an innovative Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Registry developed through implementation of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) framework.
It said the initiative positioned the city among African secondary cities that had formally linked service delivery reform to OGP commitments and demonstrated how governance and public service delivery could be strengthened through data, citizen participation and institutional reforms without relying on large-scale smart-city technology investments.
Mr Frederick Faustinus Faidoo, the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), said their selection underscored the work the city was doing to ensure sustainable development of the metropolis and uplift the wellbeing of its citizens under the Resetting Agenda.
He expressed appreciation to the team that worked on the application process and commended them for their dedication and commitment in positioning Sekondi-Takoradi on the global development platform.
Mr Aidoo also noted that this international gathering would bring together city leaders, senior officials and practitioners to explore concrete and practical solutions for improving public service delivery at the local level.
He said: “The event will provide an opportunity for cities and local governments to learn from one another, examine innovative approaches to service delivery, and explore how data can be used to better understand and respond to the needs of residents.”
Sekondi-Takoradi’s participation in the inaugural Winter School was expected to provide an important opportunity to share its experience in using open data, participatory governance, and evidence-based planning to improve WASH service delivery, he added.
Mr Aidoo said the Assembly’s selection also highlighted Sekondi-Takoradi’s growing contribution to global conversations on sustainable urban development and demonstrated the potential of locally developed governance innovations, to generate lessons for cities beyond Ghana.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga/ Christabel Addo