The European Union Ambassador to Ghana, Runne Skinnebach, has embarked on an 800-kilometre bicycle journey from Tamale to Accra.
The initiative, dubbed “Ride with Team Europe,” brought together more than ten cyclists, including the Northern Regional Minister, the Metropolitan Chief Executive of Tamale, and the Municipal Chief Executive of Sagnarigu.
The Ambassador began the journey at about 7:00 a.m. on Sunday from Jubilee Park in Tamale.
Speaking at the start of the ride, he noted that the initiative is aimed at highlighting the strong partnership between Europe and Ghana.
“We as Team Europe are very eager to demonstrate that Europe is not only Ghana’s first export market, not only a key investor, and not only a leading development partner, but also active in promoting sports and healthy living,” he said.
As part of the journey, Team Europe will plant trees along the route and engage with traditional leaders as well as government officials in communities they pass through.
The Ambassador also expressed appreciation to residents of Tamale for their warm support and encouraged Ghanaians along the route to show similar enthusiasm while the team navigates the Tamale–Kumasi highway.
Prior to the ride on Saturday, the Ambassador witnessed the formalization of a Memorandum of Understanding establishing an Inter-Jurisdictional Coordination Management Committee (ICMC) between the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, the Sagnarigu Municipal Assembly, and the European Union.
The Northern Regional Minister, Adolf Ali John, commended the Ambassador and his team for concluding their engagements in the region with the cycling initiative.
“For at least the first 30 minutes, there will be fireworks. Myself and my MMDCEs from Tamale and Sagnarigu are very good riders and will escort Team Europe towards the Savannah Region with enough energy,” he stated.
He further expressed the region’s gratitude for the European Union’s continued support and emphasized the importance of strengthening collaboration for development.
