Accra hosts global mayors

Over 300 global mayors and city authorities in Africa and Leaders of Africa and those of Diaspora descent have met in Accra with a call to solidify the internal alliance between Africa and the Diaspora, and develop effective partnerships between municipalities and other stakeholders.

 

The call also focused on tackling economic and social development issues, and deepening political dialogue to improve the future of humanity.

The delegates -- drawn from countries including Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, North Africa and South America -- are taking part in the 4^th Summit of the Global Alliance of Mayors in Africa and of African Descent, expected to end tomorrow.

The summit is under the theme “Cities Leading Sustainable human development and economic empowerment for Africa and the Diaspora”.

The Vice President, Mr. KwesiAmissah-Arthur, expressed delight at the choice of Accra for the summit and the theme -- adding that it provides a good platform for the city authorities to draw lessons from their counterparts coming from other cities to help improve the city’s management.

To stem the phenomenon of a tide rural-urban migration, the Vice-President stated that the practice the world over is to provide infrastructure and improve the lives of those in rural communities in order to discourage people from migrating to the big cities.

He said it is against this backdrop that the government is opening up opportunities for youth across the country.

Mr. Amissah-Arthur urged the mayors to create a new vision and creativity to help work together and foster cooperation in a vibrant future, adding that around the world there’s a quota for decentralisation to aid development even in the most disadvantage communities.

Commending the Global Alliance of Mayors in Africa, Mr. Amissah-Arthur said: “You are promoting Public Private Partnership (PPP) with companies such as Microsoft Corporation to seek solutions to the development challenges of the 21^st century”. 

Commenting on empowerment of women, he explained that Ghana has long held a commitment to the empowerment of women, as government has made this a priority.

 “We are addressing the issue of gender-based violence in a coordinated manner; addressing other issues such as education, seeking sustainable responses to climate change, and empowering youth. 

“Another issue on the agenda is that of sustainable human development and partnerships to eventually mobilise the private sector to bring in the needed investment capital to set up businesses that will employ and improve the livelihood of the people,” he said.

Mayor of Accra Alfred Vanderpuije at the opening ceremony in Accra said: “We shall deliberate on our common humanity, face our challenges as a people and may accept to move our human race forward with dignity and pride, proving our capacity as global leaders and players following in the footsteps of our forefathers and leaders; and declare our commitment that in our various communities we shall leave no stone unturned to do what is right for humanity”.

He said many leaders have come and gone and the blame-game is long gone -- adding that the deliberation must centre on fighting for full participation in political governance, and not only for the African but for the Africans in the Diaspora.

“We call for measures to confront racism and end it in all forms, and fight for the full empowerment of girls and women in the socio-economic and political activities of our societies.  We must create economic and job opportunities for our youth in order to end restlessness in our inner cities and communities all over the world.

“We cannot keep talking without action, the world is watching us, and we must deliver. Mayors and leaders of Africa and those of African descent must stand up to be counted. This is the moment; let us seize the opportunity and rise with the time.”

Mr. Vanderpuije challenged all mayors and leaders of Africa to advocate steps in carrying the mandate in cleaning cities and organize training progammes that will help develop human capital of the people.

He also indicated that mayors must endeavour to create trade and investment opportunities for countries, and scale-up measures to end HIV/ AIDS while providing shelter and food to improve humanity.

Oscar Gamboa Zuniga, Executive Director of Global Alliance of Mayors, said at the end of the summit that some sister-city relationships will be firmed up, while issues of training professionals, how to combat HIV/AIDS, youth empowerment and how to bridge the gender gap will be further discussed.