African-Americans must be in touch with their roots- Dr. Vanderpuije

Accra, April 1, GNA - The Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Dr. Alfred Oko Vanderpuije on Thursday called on African- Americans in the Diaspora to visit their roots and erase the fallacies about Africa.

"It is good to know that Africa has much to offer and that your ancestors did not live on trees and also not down trodden people as you h= ave been made to believe," he said when a delegation form the Frederick Dougl= ass Academy in the United States paid a courtesy call on him. The students and their leader are in the country to support the Teachers against Malaria Epidemic by helping to distribute and fix insecticide treated nets in some households in the Ga East District. The team has also adopted some children to finance their education. Dr Vanderpuije said his 20 years of working in education in the US g= ave him an insight into what people thought about Africa and noted that the visit would be an eye opener for the visitors.

He told the delegation about the adoption of Accra as a millennium c= ity by Earth Institute of the Columbia University and said a team of research= ers would be in the country in May, to help identify practical solutions to t= he city's problems.

"From this knowledge building process and thoughtful exchange, the experts will derive a set of policy recommendations that capitalise on. w= ide ranging technical expertise, as well as newly available technologies for Accra to ensure that its future becomes sustainable urban landmark." Under the project, the Earth Institute would partner the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to address some of the city's urban and environmental challenges and help residents achieve the millennium Development Goals. The initiative is being directed by the renowned development economi= st, Dr. Jeffrey Sachs who would be leading researchers and scientists from th= e US to meet their Ghanaian counterparts.

The MCE used the platform to appeal for contributions towards the AM= A endowment fund, launched last February, to enable it to meet the critical=

challenge confronting public schools in the city. The six million GH¢ fund is to help end the shift system in basic schools, which gives more than 70,000 pupils only four hours of studies instead of the required eight hours.

He said the AMA intends to provide 84 pavilions and 13,600 dual desk= s for primary schools and 45 pavilions and 7,327 desks for junior high schools. Ms Jeannine Brown who led the student delegation said they were glad= to be in the country and to see for themselves how they have been misinforme= d about Africa.

"I have experience what it is to be in Africa. I am glad to be here,= " she said and noted that we (students) want to continue exploring Africa's=

experience and what it is like to have a family. She said the group was extremely touched by the hospitality of Ghanaians and pledged their commitment to support the AMA to stop the shi= ft system when they get back home.