Dr
Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, the Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE),
has won the inaugural edition of the prestigious President Jose Eduardo
dos Santos African Best Mayor Award.
The MCE won the large cities
category award which went with a cash prize of 200,000 dollars, and a
certificate as part of the Second Africa Urban Infrastructure Investment
Forum held in Luanda, Angola on Thursday, April 30.
Other cities which contested the award were Cape Town in South Africa and Dakar in Senegal.
A
statement issued by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and copied to
the Ghana News Agency said the award included a unique trophy designed
by a distinguished Angolan artist who captured the past, present and
future of African cities.
It also embodied the courage, conviction and challenges facing African mayors.
Receiving
the award, Dr Vanderpuije expressed his appreciation to the late
President John Evans Atta Mills, the current President of Ghana, John
Dramani Mahama, and chiefs of Accra for giving him the opportunity to
serve the good people of Accra.
“This award will be an
inspiration to move the city of Accra and indeed Ghana forever forward,
contributing to the development of Africa.”
Dr Vanderpuije said
it has always been the commitment of the leadership and staff of the AMA
to do well to contribute to the better Ghana agenda, and as such
policies and decisions taken by the assembly continue to get
international recognition.
He said winning the award was a
signature of excellence which must reminded the people of Accra that
they were doing well but “must work harder in order to make Accra a
place all of us will love to stay in.” He urged Ghanaians to love and
support one another, because Ghana was a great country with wonderful
citizens.
Accra was selected in the category of large cities
while Asunafo North Municipal Assembly in Ghana, which competed in the
medium-size category lost to Kinodoni in Tanzania. The last category,
small cities, was won by Praia in Cape Verde.
The African Best
Mayor Awards programme recognizes, celebrates and rewards city leaders
who display exemplary qualities in leadership and vision, innovative
thinking, management capabilities and integrity.
Other leadership
qualities recognized are social awareness, fostering of economic growth
and development, ability to provide security and to protect the
environment as well as the will and ability to foster good relations
between communities from different cultural and social backgrounds.
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