Accra to become a Millennium City - Vanderpuije

Accra, Dec. 3, GNA - Accra will be developed into a Millennium City and nothing would stop that vision from coming into fruition, Mayor of Accra, Dr. Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, declared on Thursday.

"A new day of responsibility and opportunities has dawned on us. It is a day for which we must commit to put old ways of doing things behind us and reach for high standards to achieve developmental activities for Accra," Dr. Vanderpuije was launching the vision of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) on the theme: "A New Accra for a Better Ghana." "With the help of God we can make this happen," he said and called on residents to join the AMA to achieve its vision.

"I'm positive we all want a modern city; one with water flowing everyday and electricity available; good environment and unlitered roads; effective drainage system; healthy private and public toilets; disciplined people; effective transportation; modern hospital meeting the health challenges of our time and effective housing program to meet the accommodation needs of the people.

Dr. Vanderpuije said the AMA would demonstrate its commitment to the vision by undertaking activities such as monitoring the streets of the metropolis to ensure that traders did not take over, ensure proper environmental standards within the metropolis and also ensure and enforce building permits on all construction.

Giving details on the Millennium City initiative, he said the Earth Institute at Columbia University had selected Accra to become a Millennium City.

Under the project the Earth Institute will partner with the AMA to address some of the city's urban and environmental challenges and help residents achieve the millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The initiative is being directed by renowned development economist Dr. Jeffrey Sachs who would be leading researchers and scientists from Columbia University and their Ghanaian counterparts to identify practical solutions facing the city and therefore examine the current situation in Accra and study the city's history and promise.

From this knowledge building process and thoughtful exchange, the experts will derive a set of policy recommendations that capitalise on both teams' wide ranging technical expertise, as well as newly available technologies for Accra to ensure that its future becomes sustainable urban landmark.

The commencement of these activities would take place this week with a team from the earth Institute visiting Accra and a declaration of Accra as a Millennium City on January 15, 2010 by Dr. Jeffrey Sachs.

On some problems confronting the AMA such as heaps of refuse, unprecedented vehicular traffic and human congestion due to influx of hawkers, containers and kiosks on pavements and street corners, abandoned vehicles non-payment of building permit fees and encroachment on school and government lands, Dr. Vanderpuije said AMA had remedied some of them within a short period.

He catalogued some control of swine, cattle, sheep and goats within the city, a waste to energy project to control 2,000 metric tonnes of refuse generated daily into energy, construction work at Amasaman for the relocation from Agbogbloshie of the yam, onion and oil markets and lorry parks.

Other remedies are decision to use the swap card system where all payments to the AMA would be made through banks or a handheld electronic device and the decision to go "sinage", a modern technology driven management system whereby bill boards, group directional signs, posters and banners engulfing the city would be re-organised to beautify the city as well as enhance the revenue base of the Assembly. Dr. Vanderpuije touched on steps taken by government and the AMA to minimize floods by removing all illegal and unauthorized structures and noted that 75 out of 442 structures had been demolished on the Chemu-Sakaman waterway.

On roads, he said several roads, walkways and U-drains had been constructed or rehabilitated and the AMA was also in consultation with 24-Hour towing vehicle service to tow all abandoned vehicles in the 11 sub-metros. Some 60 vehicles have been cleared off the streets. Dr. Vanderpuije announced that the Achimota Transport Terminal would be commissioned on December 9 December to help decongest some parts Kwame Nkrumah Circle and the installation. More than 1,900 streetlights are being installed throughout the metropolis to ensure safety for the people. He praised his predecessors and noted that they never failed in developing Accra as some people think because they duly contributed their quota.

He said if Ghanaians had given their backing to his immediate predecessor, Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson, Accra would have become a city befitting it status. Dr. Vanderpuije said he would learn from their experiences and not commit the mistakes of the past. Ga Mantse Nii Tackie Tawiah pledged the support of the Ga State to make Accra the Millennium City the AMA had envisioned.