The Mayor of Tamale, Hon. Alhaji Adam Abubakari Takoro, has successfully concluded his participation in the 9th Forum for Cities and Regions of International Partnerships (FCRIP) 2025, held from 8th to 10th December in Belgium, with a strong focus on positioning Tamale for sustainable urban development through global collaboration.
The high-level forum brought together mayors, regional leaders, development partners, policymakers, and international institutions from across the world to exchange ideas, share experiences, and strengthen international cooperation in addressing the growing challenges facing cities and regions, particularly in the Global South.
Throughout the three-day forum, Hon. Takoro actively engaged in plenary discussions, policy dialogues, and thematic sessions centred on priority areas critical to Tamale’s development agenda.
Key among these were waste management, water and sanitation, and health, education, and employment, sectors that remain central to improving service delivery and enhancing the quality of life for residents of the Tamale Metropolis.
The final day of the forum was marked by high-level wrap-up sessions and partnership-focused engagements.
These included reflections on lessons learnt, the consolidation of city-to-city and region-to-region cooperation frameworks, and practical roadmaps for translating dialogue into action at the local level.
Mayor Takoro participated in networking meetings with counterparts from Europe, Africa, and other parts of the world, exploring opportunities for technical support, capacity building, and investment partnerships that could benefit Tamale.
Discussions on waste management highlighted innovative approaches to urban sanitation, recycling, and climate-resilient waste systems, while sessions on water and sanitation underscored the importance of inclusive infrastructure planning and sustainable financing models.
In the areas of health, education, and employment, the forum emphasized integrated urban solutions that link social services, skills development, and job creation to long-term economic growth.
Mayor Takoro’s presence at the forum reaffirmed Tamale’s commitment to learning from global best practices and adapting them to local realities.
His engagement also demonstrated the Metropolis’ readiness to collaborate with international partners to attract innovative solutions, strengthen institutional capacity, and accelerate progress towards sustainable and inclusive development.
The 9th Forum for Cities and Regions of International Partnerships 2025 concluded with a renewed call on city and regional leaders to take collective action, foster stronger partnerships, and translate international cooperation into tangible results for citizens.
For Tamale, the outcomes of the forum are expected to inform future policies and initiatives aimed at improving urban governance, service delivery, and livelihoods across the metropolis.
In summary, the 2025 Forum represents a critical junction where global development ambitions meet local realities. By putting local/regional authorities at the core of international cooperation discussions, especially within the framework of Global Gateway and in fragile contexts, the Forum aims to redefine how cities and regions contribute to sustainable development, resilience, inclusion and long-term global partnerships.
Report By: Robicon Mornahson
