Accra, July 15, GNA-The World Bank is to offer the Accra Metropolitan Assembly
(AMA) with US$3.860,000 in support of its the Millennium City Project (MCP) The AMA needs US$7.5, 000,000 for the completion of the entire project aimed at making
life comfortable for the people in Ghana's largest metropolis. Mr. Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, AMA Chief Executive, announced this at the first ordinary
meeting of the assembly on Friday in Accra. The meeting aimed at addressing matters relating to the mission statement of the Assembly
as well as issues confronting people in the city. He noted that the objective of the Millennium city project was to seek technical and
financial support in a 93 win-win public private partnership" to implement programme and
projects to hasten the attainment of the millennium Development goals by 20= 15. Mr.Vanderpuije urged the taskforce units of the sub-metros to intensify their mobilization
drive in order to achieve a high performance this year adding, a modern technology to reduce
human element in revenue mobilization has been introduced to help curb fraud and
embezzlement. He stated that the Assembly has authorized only the National Investment Bank (NIB) and
the Intercontinental Bank to receive collected property rates, business operating permit fees,
building permit as well as public health fees to avoid rampant fraud in the system and to
streamline the financial system to ensure that that all revenues collected were accurately
accounted for. He said the Assembly would receive three containers of medical logistics, supplies and
equipment worth US$250,000 each from Medshare, United States based donors. He said the items would be distributed to some health institutions in the Metropolis
adding, the items were to be used to curb rampant deaths in the country. He noted that health institutions in the city reveal dilapidated structures and there is the
need to construct modern ones which are well equipped to make health service delivery
efficient to meet the needs of the people. Mr Vanderpuije said a programme would soon be implemented to reduce urban poverty
within the Metropolis by partnering with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) to teach
the youth sustainable and employable skills to make them productive and earn a living. He cautioned staff of the Assembly to change their attitude towards work to increase
productivity for the development of the nation. The Mayor commended the First Lady Mrs. Ernestina Naadu Mills for supporting the
implementation of the Millennium City initiative as well as other philanthropists and called for
more support to help create a conducive environment for residents of the Metropolis.
