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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is a state rich in culture
3and ethnic diversity and is home to people of every national
4origin, including a significant number of Ghanaians; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The City of Accra is a prominent African city,
6rich in tradition, the homeland of many Illinois residents,
7the capital of Ghana, and the first African nation to gain
8independence from colonial rule; and
 
9    WHEREAS, The City of Accra hosted the All African Peoples
10Conference in 1958, which proclaimed that colonialism, racism,
11and imperialism must cease and Africa should be free; it also
12hosted the 1964 Organization of African Unity Conference,
13which debated the necessity of a Continental Union Government
14for the whole continent of Africa; and
 
15    WHEREAS, The City of Chicago and the City of Accra were
16officially acknowledged by the Chicago City Council as Sister
17Cities on June 28, 1989; and
 
18    WHEREAS, It is fitting that the rich relationship between
19the City of Chicago and the City of Accra be expanded to the
20entire State of Illinois in order to enhance the exchange of
21ideas and promote further goodwill, harmony, commerce, and

 

 

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1mutual development; and
 
2    WHEREAS, In order to further explore the mutual benefits
3to the State of Illinois, the Illinois General Assembly and
4members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus seek to
5engage with the City of Accra, Ghana for the reciprocal
6benefit of strengthening relations and exchanges involving the
7identification of opportunities for economic development,
8education policy, judicial policy, environmental policy, and
9the improvement of health and human services for African
10Americans and African citizens in the country of Ghana;
11therefore, be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
13HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
14SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we seek to initiate a
15delegation from among the members of the Illinois General
16Assembly and of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus to visit
17the City of Accra, Ghana for the purpose of acknowledging and
18expanding the mutually beneficial relationship between the
19State of Illinois and Ghana; and be it further
 
20    RESOLVED, That the purpose of this delegation would be to
21exchange knowledge, expertise, and good relations with the
22City of Accra's Social Welfare & Community Development
23Department, Metro Public Health Department, Department of

 

 

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1Education, Legal Department, Food & Agriculture Department,
2Urban Roads Department, and Waste Management Department; and
3be it further
 
4    RESOLVED, That the State of Illinois and the City of
5Accra, on the basis of friendly cooperation, equality, and
6mutual benefit, are encouraged to promote and broaden economic
7cooperation and trade relations between the two bodies and
8carry out exchanges in fields such as science and technology,
9culture and education, sports and health, and others to
10promote their prosperity and contribute towards further
11developing friendly relations between the people of the two
12countries; and be it further
 
13    RESOLVED, That we hereby declare, on behalf of the
14citizens of Illinois, our esteem and friendship to the City of
15Accra, Ghana and its citizens and express a request for an
16invitation from the parliament of Ghana for an official visit,
17December 10-20, 2022; and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That the State of Illinois promises its
19continued goodwill and cooperation with Accra; and be it
20further
 
21    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
22delivered to the Honorable Elizabeth Sackey, Mayor of Accra,

 

 

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1Ghana, for presentation to the governing body of Accra as a
2token of our esteem and a request for a official invitation
3from the parliament of Ghana for a visit from a delegation of
4members from the Illinois General Assembly and from the
5Illinois Legislative Black Caucus.