Ghanaian mayor of Sister City makes first visit to Fredericksburg  

Lord Owusu Mensah’s magnetic smile greeted visitors in downtown Fredericksburg Wednesday.

The 29-year-old is the mayor of Fredericksburg’s Sister City in Ghana, Prince’s Town. The young diplomat spent the day touring the visitor center and taking a trolley tour of town before lunch at Anita’s Cafe & Dessert Bar. It was just one of many stops he made around the region this week, during his first trip to the United States.

Mensah is traveling with educator Abena Anita Gyebi Ackon to showcase the ties between his hometown and Fredericksburg, which will be the topic of his lecture Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library’s Fredericksburg Branch.

The trip marks a whirlwind of firsts for the young leader, who just got his first passport to board his first plane ride. Mensah admitted with a laugh, “I never thought I would travel anytime soon… it’s good I’m here.”  

The Sister City connection was established in 2006 under the stewardship of then-U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Pamela Bridgewater, a Fredericksburg native. “A fantastic woman,” Mensah said, recalling how their partnership grew after meeting in 2025 at her book launch in Accra. “When I came into office in 2024, I really wanted to revive the old partnerships we had. And this opportunity is what is needed for my community, for my people.” 

Mensah’s mother, a seamstress, raised him with strict devotion to the church. At 15, he founded his own non-denominational ministry.

“I grew up as a sickly boy who stayed indoors,” Mensah said. “It is only preaching that made me loud.” 

Lord Owusu Mensah (middle) had lunch at Anita’s Cafe & Dessert Bar with former ambassador Pamela Bridgewater (far left), cafe owner Anita Crossfield (far right) and Abena Anita Gyebi Ackon (right forefront).

He fell in love with literature, inspired by the Ghanaian satirical comedy “The Blinkards” by Kobina Sekyi and a love of poetry. In high school, his literature teacher commended his talent and encouraged him to continue writing by handing him a blank notebook.

“My interest in science, math … they died out and I was all out for literature, English,” he said. That was it …  the whole thing changed.”  

Mensah did not seek out a position in public office but his active role in the community as a preacher, youth advocate, and an English translator drew the attention of town elders. 

“The elders had to speak to me, spoke to my mother,” Mensah recalled. “They said, ‘You are already in the community, why not run for office?’ I had to think twice before committing. Then I realized that probably it is God who wanted me to do this. Prince’s Town needs somebody youthful and with godly zeal.” 

In 2023 he won the local election and officially began his term in early 2024. His leadership philosophy relies on what he calls “Christo-centric change” — focusing on using godly principles to achieve community results. Mensah describes his role as “campaigning for God” as he weaves together his diplomatic talents as a preacher and politician.  

As a child in Ghana, Mensah’s main window into American life was through television. A friend would bring downloaded episodes of the comedy series “Everybody Hates Chris” to his rural town.  

Earlier this week, Mensah traveled to Washington, D.C., and left deeply moved by the historic monuments and striking architecture.

“I didn’t know D.C. was this powerful,” Mensah said. “You see legacy written all over through those statues and architectural designs.”

When asked about the best food he had tried on the trip, Mensah pointed to his discovery of American soul food and fried chicken.  

Mensah also invited Virginians to visit Prince’s Town and Fort Gross Fredericksburg, a UNESCO World Heritage site and German colonial fortress on Ghana’s west coast, as well as the Kundum Festival in October.