Okoe Vanderpuije to lead Global Alliance of Mayors, Leaders

The Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Mr Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, has been elected the President of the Global Alliance of Mayors and Leaders from Africa and of African descent.

The gavel of the presidency was handed over to Mr Vanderpuije during the second meeting of the Global Alliance held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

This makes him the first president of the World Alliance of Mayors and Leaders of Africa and of African descent.

Recognition of contribution

The election was in recognition of his contribution towards the development of Africans  through education, health and the general social advancement of his people.

Present at the ceremony were Mr Isidro Noel Ruiz, Mayor of Santa Fe, Honduras; Ms Celia Sacramento, Vice-Mayor of Salvador da Bahia, Brazil and newly-elected Vice-President of the Global Alliance; Mr Oscar Gamboa, the Global Alliance Coordinator; Ms Djeneba Kone, ROJALNU Youth Leader; and Mr Klotioloma Yeo, Vice-Governor of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

Reached for his comments, an obviously elated Mr Vanderpuije dedicated the honour to his team at the AMA, the Presidency for the honour to serve and the people for their continued support to uplift the status of Accra in particular and Ghana in general.

Least expected

“I am humbled by the honour as I least expected it,” he said.

Mr Vanderpuije, however, explained that the honour to serve on the global stage “speaks well of Ghana, the President and the entire leadership of the country, who are working hard for the development of the country”.

He noted that the recognition was an acknowledgement of Ghana’s network in international circles.