Ho - Ghana
About Ho
Ho is the capital of Ghana's Volta Region, situated between the mountains of the Togo Atakora Range with a population of approximately 180,000. Like Gainesville, Ho is a university city — home to eight tertiary institutions, including the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) and Ghana Technology University College. This concentration of higher education institutions has earned Ho recognition as an education hub in West Africa. The city is also known for the annual Asogli Yam Festival, a celebration of Volta Region heritage held each September, and for its role as a trading center drawing visitors from across the region and neighboring Togo.
History
The partnership between Gainesville and Ho was established in 2022, when then-Mayor Lauren Poe and Ho Municipal Chief Executive Divine Bosson signed a Memorandum of Understanding via a virtual ceremony. The signing made Ho Gainesville's tenth sister city and its first in Africa.
Mayor Poe highlighted Gainesville's renewable energy accomplishments in the ceremony, noting the city's ranking among the top solar energy producers per capita in the world. Municipal Chief Executive Bosson emphasized Ho's strength in higher education and its potential for academic exchange. The MOU was framed around mutual interests in education, economic development, and cultural exchange, with the explicit goal of creating sustainable partnerships that address social needs and expand economic opportunities in both communities.
Since 2022
See the memorandum of understanding establishing the sister city relationship between Gainesville and Ho in 2022 below.
Exchanges and Delegations
There have been several delegations from Gainesville visiting Ho and other locations in Ghana since the program’s inception. Exchanges have focused on arts, culture, education and tourism.
Due to travel restrictions and economic variables, there has not been an official visit from the Mayor of Ho or any other delegation members. However, several groups have visited from the Greater Gainesville area, starting in 2022 and continuing every year since.
Projects
There have been several student exchanges, including a writing contest and cultural demonstrations.
GGIC is working with an artist, musician and environmental advocate to create a program that teaches environmental concepts through music and the arts. The program will be implemented in Ghanaian villages starting in 2027.