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.