Ghana has been selected to host the United States (US) Africa Sister Cities conference, aimed at building strong ties of co-operation between the citizens of US cities and other African cities for their mutual benefit. The event would be held in June and July next year.

Representatives of Africa's cities that have sister city connections with US cities as well as the cities, towns and district assemblies in Ghana that are linked with the 11 US cities would receive the delegates for the conference.

Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development (MLG&RD) said this on Thursday when he inaugurated a 24-member sub-committee of which, he is the moderator, to see to the successful organisation of the conference.

The committee that would be working under the auspices of the Vice President and assist an international committee for the same function has Hajia Alima Mahama, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development as chairperson.

It is expected to arrange for accommodation, transport and a Presidential reception, among other things, for delegates of the conference. Mr Baah-Wiredu said the conference through the sharing of ideas would stimulate export, help develop the communities, markets and transportation. He said, through the people to people contacts, it would establish international understanding, out of which world conflicts would be minimized.

Mr Baah-Wiredu said President Dwigth D. Eisenhower of the US, who promoted the idea of sister cities after World War II, was focusing on the achievement of world peace. He said the conference would also encourage private sector development being the priority of the government as it served as a catalyst for sustainable development for the prosperity of people.

Mr Solomon Darko, Mayor of Accra, said to enhance public protection and safety, 200 million cedis had been spent to provide streetlights on the Achimota School - GIMPA road and the Osu Oxford Street to Cantonments that had been without streetlights for several years.

He said the Chinese government had also donated 1.2 million dollars to Ghana for the provision of streetlights from the Tetteh Quarshie Circle to Tema, adding that a maintenance fund would soon be established to maintain infrastructure.