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A team from Arkansas Municipal League of the United States of America, has arrived in the country to sign an economic partnership agreement with its Ghanaian counterpart.

Arkansas, a development-oriented organisation would share its expertise with all metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies to ensure socio-economic development of the municipalities.

The initiative encapsulates the sister cities economic development agenda aimed at fostering relationship among cities around the globe.

Central to the programme is deepening participation in local governance process and bringing development to their doorstep.

To give impetus to production of local rice and kente cloth, two institutions Riceland Rice and Wal-Mart are also in the country to improve the industries.

Led by its president, Erick Elumbaugh, Mayor of Batesville, the team would during its 12-day visit, engage the government on bilateral discussions for the benefit of the people.

Others are Sherman Banks, president emeritus, Sister Cities International; Harry and Ermd Brown, members of the League.

At the climax of the first event is the signing of a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday, October 7, between the Municipal League and National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG), the organisation that champions local governance.

Interacting with the media at the weekend shortly after the arrival of the team, Alhaji Mohammed Duku, President of NALAG, expressed optimism at the partnership, saying Ghana would benefit enormously.

Taking the media down memory lane, he said the Municipal League had already been working with some assemblies in the country.

He mentioned that 15 assemblies in the Volta Region and 12 in the Greater Accra Region are the beneficiaries of the existing programme.

He said the ministries of Finance, Local Government and Rural Development, Trade and Industry as well as the Institute of Local Government secretariat were among few agencies that would hold discussions with the non-profit entity.

Other key areas that would receive attention in the memorandum includes trade, export of local commodities such as kente and rice among others.

The President of Arkansas, Mr. Elumbaugh described the partnership as an opportunity to enhance the long standing relationship between the two countries.

He said such synergy speeds economic progress and development.