Accra Mayor to address Vatican Conference

Dr Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, Accra Mayor would address two conferences in the Vatican City, Rome slated for July 21 and 22, 2015.

The two invitations were at the instance of the Pontifical Academy of Science and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, headed by professor Jeffery Sachs at the Vatican.

Numo Blafo Akotia Omaetu III, Public Relations Officer of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), made this known to the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra.

He said the two conferences, dubbed the “Modern Slavery and Climate Change” and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, would focus on the commitment as well as achieving development in the cities and in the world.

Numo Blafo said the event would also bring together over 80 mayors of the world and Local Government leaders to deliberate on how cities can derive the implementation of sustainable development agenda of empowering people, eradicating poverty and protecting human dignity and shared prosperity.

He said Dr Vanderpuije would lead Majors from Africa and African Descent and also meet with his holiness Pope Francis.

Numo Blafo said “this would also be a preamble to the General Debate on Sustainable Development Goals (SOG) by his Holiness Pope Francis at the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly in September to adopt the Post-2015 SDGs by all concerned city authorities.

Dr Vanderpuije was voted Best Mayor of Africa in 2014 and currently the president of the Global Alliance of Majors and leaders.