Ghanaian media producer Oral Ofori to lecture in Cultural Quilt Series
On Thursday, June 18, Oral Ofori will talk about the history of the relationship between Fredericksburg, Virginia and Prince’s Town, Ghana, which dates back several centuries. Ofori, born in Tema, Ghana, is now a U.S.-based Chief Consultant at TheAfricanDream Consultancy, which he founded.
He is a graduate of the London School of Journalism and has garnered many international awards for his online and media presence. Most recently, Ofori was a major speaker at the 9th Pan-African Congress in December 2025 in Lomé, Togo.
The lecture begins at 6:30 PM, in the Theater of the Downtown Branch of the Central Rappahannock Regional Library, 1201 Princess Anne Street. It is free and open to all. Ofori will also trace the sister city relationship between the two cities, which began in December 2006.
Prince’s Town is a small coastal city in southwest Ghana, and its Fort Friedericksburg, begun in 1681, was for hundreds of years a major holding facility for 300,000 Africans awaiting forced migration as part of the slave trade.
Many of these enslaved immigrants were delivered to the docks of Fredericksburg, VA, and many of their descendants have for generations attended Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site) on Sophia Street.
In addition, Fredericksburg’s special guest, Hon. Lord Owusu Mensah, the Mayor of Prince’s Town, will also attend. Mensah’s personal and governing mantra is “Christocentric Change,” according to submitted biographical notes. He is the youngest Assemblyman in the history of Prince’s Town.
According to the notes, he governs with a philosophy of “community transformation, youth empowerment, cultural preservation, and moral leadership.” He holds a B.A. from the University of Education, Winneba, as well as several certifications in Christian ministry and leadership.
Oral Ofori observes that “Prince’s Town and Fredericksburg are more than sister cities on paper.” He adds that “we are active partners in shaping a narrative of mutual respect and shared prosperity. The Mayor’s presence elevates this from a lecture to a diplomatic moment.”
The Tema Choir USA, which recently returned from a tour in London and Paris, will also perform. Attendees will also learn about the nearly-completed health clinic in Prince’s Town, an effort which the Prince’s Town, Ghana sister city supports, and which is accepting donations.
Fredericksburg native Pamela Bridgewater, former ambassador to Ghana (2005-8), is helping to organize the Mayor’s visit, the first for a Prince’s Town mayor. Sister city committee member Powell Holly will also be on hand to accept memberships, and donations for the clinic’s completion.
According to the website, TheAfricanDream LLC “bridges Africa, its diaspora, and the world through authentic storytelling and innovative media. We deliver tailored strategies prioritizing genuine African narratives, fostering development and enhancing cooperation between the continent and its global community.”
The Ghanaian lecture is the fifth in a series of talks sponsored by Fredericksburg’s sister cities, the Central Rappahannock Regional Library, and the City of Fredericksburg. All lectures are free and open to everyone.
The series, A Cultural Quilt: Fredericksburg’s Sister City Countries and Their Influence on the Fabric of America, explores the mutual cultural influences between the countries and the United States of America. The series is a part of VA250, a year-long statewide commemoration of the nation’s 250th Anniversary.
Fredericksburg’s sister cities are: Fréjus, France (1980); Prince’s Town, Ghana (2006); Schwetzingen, Germany (2010); Este, Italy (2015); and Kathmandu, Nepal (2015).
A downloadable copy of the lecture series schedule is available at www.fred-este.org. Videos of past lectures are also available on the site. More information about Fredericksburg’s sister cities may be found at https://www.fredericksburgva.gov/808/Sister-Cities.
Source: Fredericksburg Sister City Associations
