CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) -- Charleston Mayor Joe Riley announced Thursday he would be publicly supporting a partnership between the city and Ghana through a program called Project OKURASE.
The formal announcement from Riley is set for next Tuesday, according to a release.
According to the group, Ghana and
Charleston have a longstanding affiliation dating back to when slave ships from
West Africa landed on the shores of Sullivan's Island. As a result, West Africa
has had a profound influence on Charleston's culture through arts, music, food,
basketry and way of life.
Now, Project OKURASE is giving back to the
village and bringing sustainable solutions to its people through education,
skills training and health care.
"We're so
appreciative of Mayor Riley's support, vision and tremendous respect for
Charleston's West African heritage and what Project OKURASE means to all of us
here in the Lowcountry," says Dr. Cynthia Cupit Swenson, co-director of Project
OKURASE. "The rich African traditions have a tremendous influence on the
Charleston community and Mayor Riley truly gets that we are circling back with
hope."
