Accra Joins the Global Subnational Diplomacy Council

NEW YORK AND ACCRA, October 13, 2026 — The Global Subnational Diplomacy Council (GSDC) announced that the City of Accra, represented by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, and Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, Mayor of Accra and Metropolitan Chief Executive, have joined the Council. Accra joins as a government member, while Mayor Allotey joins the Mayors Circle.

The memberships establish engagement with both the city's leadership and its public administration. Accra's government membership provides a framework for institutional participation across the Council's work, while the Mayor's participation in the Mayors Circle supports sustained dialogue with fellow mayors. Together, they connect municipal priorities with the knowledge, professional expertise, and relationships needed to carry them forward.

“As Ghana's capital and home to the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, Accra holds a significant place in the country's economic and diplomatic life,” said Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, Mayor of Accra. “Our responsibility as a municipal government is to ensure that international cooperation supports the needs of our residents and contributes to Ghana's development. Accra's membership in the Global Subnational Diplomacy Council, together with my participation in the Mayors Circle, reflects that purpose. We intend to contribute our city's experience, learn from fellow municipalities, and strengthen the partnerships and expertise that support our administration. The measure of this engagement will be its contribution to stronger public services, greater opportunity for local businesses, and improved quality of life in Accra.”

“Accra brings to the Global Subnational Diplomacy Council the experience of a national capital that is also home to an institution central to Africa's economic cooperation,” said Aissata M.B. Camara, Founder & President of the Global Subnational Diplomacy Council. “We welcome the City of Accra and Mayor Allotey as partners in advancing the knowledge and professional practice of subnational diplomacy. Our conviction is that international cooperation achieves more when national and local institutions can contribute effectively within their respective responsibilities. The Global Subnational Diplomacy Council exists to strengthen the research, expertise, and relationships that support that contribution. Through our work with Accra, we will pursue the purpose at the heart of this Council: strengthening governments so they can better serve their communities, expand opportunity, and help people live with dignity.”

Accra's participation builds on the Assembly's international relationships with development partners, diplomatic missions, and sister cities. Its International Relations Office works across municipal departments to connect those relationships with priorities including urban development, climate resilience, sanitation, and economic growth.

“For a capital city such as Accra, international relationships must be supported by the professional capacity to turn shared interests into practical cooperation,” said Mr. Bashiru Salifu, Head of International Relations at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly. “Our office's responsibility is to connect those relationships with the Assembly's priorities, working across municipal departments and in coordination with the relevant national institutions. Through the Global Subnational Diplomacy Council, we intend to contribute Accra's experience and deepen our expertise in developing partnerships, carrying commitments through to implementation, and assessing their value. We seek an enduring institutional relationship that strengthens both the contribution Accra makes to municipal cooperation and the benefits that cooperation brings to our communities.”

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly is a local government authority in Ghana. It works to improve residents' quality of life through municipal services and opportunities for social and economic development. Its international partnerships support cooperation and knowledge exchange in service of the city's development priorities.