AMA Boss concludes prayer sessions on Accra's new vision

Accra, Dec 20, GNA - Dr. Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, Mayor of Accra, on Sunday concluded his week end-long pilgrimage to religious enclaves in the capital to pray for the success of the 'New Accra for a better Ghana'. The 'New Accra for a better Ghana' vision being implemented by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) is a-seven point strategy that seeks to improve drainage, sanitation, health facilities, educational infrastructure to end the shift-system by next academic year, regular and efficient delivery of potable water and electricity as well as improved road network all aimed at remaking the city to befit its status as the national capital. In view of this, Dr Vanderpuije and Assembly Members of the AMA had since Friday last week, been visiting different religious denominations to share the vision with them and ask for their prayers to make it succeed. Apart from the La Nativity Presbyterian Church which was the last body visited on Sunday, the Mayor and his team on Saturday joined the closing session of the Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church, West -Central Africa Division, Literature Evangelists Convention which took place at Oyibi near Dodowa and on Friday also joined Muslims at the Abosey Okai Central Mosque in Accra for prayers.

During all those sessions, Dr. Vanderpuije reiterated the AMA's commitment to implementing strategies to ensure the modernization of the national capital city.

He said all local authorities must function and be seen to be delivering the opportunities that people needed to feel the 'Better Ghana' agenda that National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration promised in its 2008 manifesto.

He said as the national capital, 'AMA has to provide the leadership and the lead role in doing the things the right way for other Assemblies to follow and that is why we taken the lead to show the way'.

He said Accra would be declared a Millennium City on January 15, next year, a condition which demanded that it did things in the right direction to benefit its residents.

Dr. Vanderpuije called on people to abide by the Assembly's bye-laws and do away with bad habits such as building in waterways as well as choking of gutters with refuse to avoid the perennial flooding of the city. He assured the religious bodies that government would work hand-in-hand with them to transform the society and called on them to join in the efforts to transform the city.

At the SDA's Convention at Oyibi, Pastor Dr. Samuel Larmie, President of the Ghana Union Conference of the SDA who led the liturgy, presented Dr. Vanderpuije with a book entitled: 'Delivering a healthy mind' to guide him in his efforts to deliver the best for the city. The SDA also presented gospel literature books to members of the Mayor's entourage. Dr. Vanderpuije donated GHc 500 to each of the bodies visited. 20 Dec. 09