Government pledges support for community self-help approach

Accra, July 4, GNA - The government will encourage and support municipalities, districts and towns to adopt the self-help approach, people to people contact and grassroots community participation to improve the quality of life of the people. The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kwadwo Adjei Darko, at the ending of the 12th annual US-Africa Sister Cities conference in Accra on Thursday, said government would not shirk its responsibility to improve the well-being of the people. He said the government took considerable interest in the conference although the Sister Cities programmes were generally non-governmental because Africa should make every effort to access the benefits accruing from the relations.

"We must indeed return from this with a draft Memoranda of Understanding on partnership for discussion and endorsement of our respective local authorities," Mr Adjei Darko said. The Minister called on the participants to apply the Sister Cities' concept at the local authority level to promote peace, good governance and balanced development. Mr Darko expressed the hope that the relationship forged at the conference would not be a one-way traffic of donations and gifts from US to Africa. "Our tourism potentials need to be exploited and investors encouraged to invest on the continent".

Mr Solomon Ofei Darko, Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive, said the conference afforded an opportunity for mutual exchange of ideas that would go a long way to improve the conditions of the poor and promote good governance. He appealed to the participants to network and share ideas to eradicate diseases and poverty since no meaningful progress could be made without resolving the issue of the poor. The conference brought together about 700 participants from US and Africa to share ideas on trade investment and the HIV/AIDS menace. It was on the theme:" Strengthening Sister Cities in Africa - A focus on HIV/AIDS Crises, Business, Trade Investment and Democratic Governance."