Liberia: Hamilton, Paynesville Formalize First-Ever Sister City Partnership

PAYNESVILLE – The Government of Liberia, through the Paynesville City Corporation (PCC), has signed a historic sister city agreement with the City of Hamilton in Ontario, Canada, marking Hamilton’s first such partnership with a city in Africa.

Sister city relationships are formal partnerships between municipalities that encourage cooperation in areas such as education, culture, trade, and governance. They serve as a platform for cities to share experiences, exchange best practices, and build people-to-people connections across borders.

The agreement held in person and virtually is a culmination of nearly two decades of collaboration driven by Empowerment Squared, a Canadian charity that has worked to harness education and partnerships for development in Liberia. One of the key outcomes of this effort was the establishment of the Liberian Learning Center, which opened its doors on December 13, 2024 in Paynesville.

The center, developed in partnership with Rotary International, McCallumSather, Hamilton Public Library, Paynesville City Corporation, and Tri Buchanan Development Corp, has become a symbol of hope and transformation for communities in both Liberia and Canada.

Building on that spirit, Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath introduced a motion to her city council on February 14, 2024, calling for a formal sister city relationship with Paynesville. The motion received unanimous approval, cementing the milestone.

Mayor Horwath said the partnership goes beyond symbolism:

“As the city of Hamilton Mayor, I am incredibly proud to announce that we have formalized the sister city relationship with Paynesville, Liberia. These kinds of relationships create space for so much positivity.”

Paynesville City Mayor Robert Bestman welcomed the pact, noting that Paynesville stands to benefit from Hamilton’s decades of growth and experience.

“We are really interested in copying from Hamilton city to bring back to Paynesville to make sure our people learn from how Hamilton has transitioned over the period,” Mayor Bestman said.

The sister city bond is expected to foster knowledge sharing, cultural exchange, and joint initiatives in education, infrastructure, and city governance.