Dr Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive, has called for commitment to the national cause of achieving the Better Ghana Agenda.

He said the lesson that could be learned from being the first President of the World Global Alliance of Mayors and leadership of Africa was that hard work and commitment paid in the fight to eliminate the constraints impeding the effective development of Accra.

Dr Vanderpuije said this when the Italian Ambassador to Ghana, Madam Laura Carpini, paid a courtesy call to acknowledge the Chief Executive's achievement towards the Millennium Development Goals.

He said the choice for Accra as a Millennium City now demanded special programmes to give the metropolis a new look for its honoured role.

Dr Vanderpuije said: “Re-orientation of the minds and behaviours of the people to help find solutions to issues such as health, sanitation and education for more development is what I discussed with my colleague mayors and where they affirmed their commitments.”

The AMA Chief Executive said the award by the Global Alliance as the first President of the Mayors drawn from 80 countries to “me is a powerful recognition of my work and conviction of the international communities."

He said: “It has helped to show-case Ghana as a preferred investment destination in Africa and provided a platform for the enhancement of the country’s image abroad.”

Dr Vanderpuije said it was an opportunity to collaborate with the mayors in Africa and the world and create a platform to bring all experts down for rapid development in the cities in Ghana.

He dedicated the award to President John Dramani Mahama and the people of Ghana adding that: “it’s now time to re-awaken the Better Ghana Agenda vision and ensure that our country reaches higher heights.”

Madam Laura Carpini congratulated Dr Vanderpuije and gave the assurance that her country would strengthen bilateral relations with Ghana to achieve her Millennium Development Goals.