The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) under the leadership of its Mayor, Dr. Afred Okoe Vanderpuije has made significant progress in the development efforts of the metropolis over the last four years, but many ?ungrateful? and ?frustrated? individuals have made it their daily duties to dent the image of the mayor thereby creating the impression as though nothing happened under his leadership.
In as much as he has achieved significant feat for the Assembly towards the development of Accra, he is further committed to improving its achievements in order to advance the Better Ghana Agenda.
The many achievements attained by Dr. Okoe Vanderpuije surpass other Assemblies. It is commendable that the Accra Metropolitan Assembly has been the only Assembly to establish sister relationship with other countries, especially the USA-South Carolina. This relationship has seen members of the Assembly travel to acquire much knowledge on how South Carolina is managing its waste.
Interestingly, this has led to the establishment of an engineered landfill site situated in Tema.
It is also notable that the AMA under Okoe Vanderpuije has been able to build similar relationship with Sansuun in Turkey, which systems are being replicated in Ghana.
Notable is the fact that under his leadership, the nation?s Capital City can boast of much development and some of the noted worthy achievement but not limited to ?the declaration of Accra as a Millennium city on January 15th 2010 by the Earth institute of Colombian University New York, USA.
The city of Accra was also nominated as one of five (5) other cities with high scores in sanitation and environmental management by the UN climate change conference in South Africa held in 2012
Another achievement is Accra being cited as the forth (4th ) out of the forty six (46) place, the New York times recommended for business and tourist destination ?in 2013.
The city of Accra, under the governance of Hon Mayor Vanderpuije in January 2013 was declared as the Africa city with the highest growth prospect by global payment leader master card.
Indeed, within 3 years Accra has gone from being the dirtiest city to one of the best in Africa in environmental sanitation according to UN climate change conference in South Africa in 2011.
Under the leadership of the Mayor, the Assembly has ended the shift system of education in Accra, 79,000 children involved for September, 2010-2011 school year as it built 500 temporary classrooms for the project.
Numerous among his achievements are, the ?Building 74 millennium city school -3 storeys, 18? class rooms? blocks with computer and science lab as well as libraries.
He has succeeded in supplying over 17,000 dual desks in AMA schools.
Community upgrades in the area of roads Networks, street lights and drains in Mamprose, Darkuman Dansoman etc.
Also, Electoral area projects throughout the metropolis in the development of street light (a total of 7026) was implemented with the construction of public toilets in some hospitals, schools and the community 61 toilet.
Construction of liquid west treatment plant in Legon completed as serve the University of Ghana Legon, IPS Presec and Achimota Secondary School, The implementations of polluter pay system (Engaging ten (10) west management constructers for collection of the 2, 500 tons of refuse generated daily in Accra, Decongestion and beautification of the city that has led to the restoration of the Kwame circle, reduction in crime of the city that led to restoration of the Kwame Nkruma circle, and the reduction in crime in the city and reduction of accidents (according to road safety commission) just to mention a few.
As of August 2011 he has moved 2257 employee of AMA from 2006 salary status to 2009.
AMA has also been the first Assembly to passed FOAT for the 1st time in the earning the Assembly 1.3 million Cedis, it them achieved a revenue generation of 22.9 million 2012, a growth rate of 12% over the achievement.
The Assembly has also completed over 251 projects in AMA areas. Some of the projects include School, Public Toilet, Roads, Drains, Market, provided the AMA with trucks and vehicles to support responsibilities as it equipped them with 18 pick-ups, 6 heavy duty equipments, 2 tipper trucks, 3 18-wheel trucks, 24 motor bikes, and 11 ?bola? taixs.
Recent among his achievements is the successful transformation of the High Street into a one-way street and also his instrumental role in obtaining 663 million US Dollars from the US Exim Bank for the Accra Drainage and Sewage Improvement Project also known as the CONTI Project.
These are some of the many achievements he has brought to the Capital City for which he is commended for, but few among the many who believe these entire achievements amount to nothing are calling on the President not to give him another term as the Mayor of Accra.
But members of the Ga Traditional Council who condemned the unwarranted attacks on him by some sections of the ?unrecognised? and illegitimate group, believed that the Mayor deserves another term and that the President should consider retaining him in his position even for the third term.
