Ghana to host sister cities conference

Ghana is to host the 12th US Africa Sister Cities conference scheduled for June 29 to July 5 in Accra.

At a press briefing on Thursday to highlight activities on the event, Captain Nkrabeah Effah Dartey, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, said the conference would focus on four major areas including panel sessions, workshops, sister city relations and exhibitions.

The conference, on the theme: "Strengthening Sister Cities in Africa: A Focus on HIV/AIDS Crisis, Business, Trade and Democratic Governance", would host about 600 delegates.

Participating cities from the US are New York, Washington, Chicago, Texas and Los Angeles, while representatives from cities in Rwanda, Nigeria, Botswana and South Africa would also take part in the seven-day conference.

Captain Effah Dartey explained that the Sister Cities Concept was based on grassroots community participation and was directed at motivating and empowering municipal and local citizens and business leaders to dialogue with sister city partners in planning and executing development activities.

He further said the non-reliance of the concept on central government relieved it of budgetary responsibilities and helped to promote international peace and security among member nations.

He said the whole concept originated after the Second World War that unleashed much horror and devastation on mankind. "The world woke up to the need to put in place measures that would lessen the chances of such future world conflicts and to promote international peace and security", he said.

He mentioned cities such as Accra, Cape Coast, Secondi-Takoradi, Kumasi, Konongo-Odumasi, Tamale, Tema and Elmina as members of such affiliations.

The Minister said the Ghana Sister Cities Foundation in collaboration with the Ghana AIDS Commission, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and the Ministry of Health, would organise an AIDS walk to mobilise funds for AIDS victims.

He appealed to all stakeholders and the entire public to support the programme by making donations and providing psychological support for victims.

Captain Effah Dartey, who is also the chairman of the planning committee, said a special mayors conference, apart from the main programme, would be held to compare strategies, network and share information on issues of mutual benefit.