Accra, Jan. 15, GNA - Development economist, Dr. Jeffrey Sachs on Friday said Accra has great potentials but with enormous challenges. He however said that it could be turned into a city befitting its status adding: "If Accra flourishes Ghana and West Africa would do same".

Dr. Sachs said these when he was declaring Accra as a millennium city, to forge partnership that would accelerate sustainable economic development in Accra.

The Millennium City Initiative is a project being undertaken by the Earth Institute, a research and education centre at the Columbia University, USA to assist 11 selected Sub-Saharan cities to design effective viable strategies to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Dr Sachs said authorities of the institute would partner Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) through the provision of technical advice and other support to transform Accra.

He said "We are on the ideas side" he said and the institute would be a step behind AMA and government because they had to take the lead to be followed."

Dr Sachs commended f ormer UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, for the millennium city initiative and called for unity and partnership to achieve its objectives.

Mrs. Ernestina Naadu Mills, First Lady, unveiling the cornerstone near the Independence arch for the declaration, said assistance from the institute to transform Accra was vital to meet the enormous challenges of the city with a population of four million and one million people visiting daily. She commended the strong commitment of AMA and the effective planning being facilitated by the institute and backed by political will.

The AMA, she said should identify the huge untapped resources to generate additional resources in order that at the end of the partnership in two years time, Accra would be seen as a better city envisaged by the millennium city agenda. To the residents of Accra, Mrs. Mills said some actions taken by the AMA could inconvenient some of them but they should be undertaken to ensure the initiative succeeded and made the capital city a cleaner, safer, healthier and stress free.

Dr. Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, Accra Mayor, noted that it had been the desire of successive governments to make the city people-friendly but due to limited budgetary constraints, the city faced serious challenges. These include public infrastructure, health, water and sanitation, education, transport, housing, waste management, energy and economic opportunities.

However, Dr. Vanderpuije said the assembly was determined to turn things around within the shortest possible time and noted that it would not be a mere declaration.

"The AMA is resolved to play its role effectively to ensure the future as a sustainable urban landmark. We are not under illusions with regard to the task confronting us. We are determined to realize this vision," he said.

He catalogued some of the challenges facing the AMA as, the development of unplanned settlements in Old Fadama, Nima and Maamobi, the rising slums in Chorkor through James Town, development of unauthorized structures in some parts of the city and encroachment of public lands.

"The new Accra is to see the end of further slum development while existing slums would be upgraded, although it would affect some people we call for cooperation," he said. The Accra Mayor said the assembly's health department would be strengthened as well as improvement in the education sector and revenue mnobilisation.

The AMA in December, 2009 launched its vision on the theme: "A New Accra for a Better Ghana".

It is to make Accra a modern city with the provision of utilities daily, good environment and unlettered roads, effective drainage system, healthy private and public toilets, disciplined people, effective transportation, modern hospital to meet the challenges of the time and effective housing programme to meet the accommodation needs of the people.