Human Rights of Women
The Global Alliance of Mayors and Leaders from Africa and the Diaspora, have called on governments to increase their investment in women’s education to encourage their participation in decision making processes at the grassroots level.
They also urged African leaders to sustain efforts of community-based organisations of women, to create and strengthen programs to promote the equal participation in local governance and enhance gender equity
The call was made in a 14-point communique issued at the just ended three days Fourth Summit of the Alliance on the theme: “Cities leading sustainable human development and economic empowerment for Africa and the Diaspora.”
It was attended by more than 300 participants representing municipalities, governments, private sector and international organisations to share experiences and find the way forward in promoting sustainable development in cities and to draw an action plan.
Dr Alfred Oko Vanderpuje, President of the Global Alliance of Mayors and also Accra Metropolitan Chief expressed appreciation at the resolution adopted by the United Nation General Assembly in December 2013.
The resolution proclaimed the International Decade for people of African Descent by 2015 to 2024 with the emphasis on women’s empowerment and their importance in leadership in Africa, he said.
Dr Vanderpuje said the Global Alliance would strengthen the bonds between Africans and the Diaspora while affirming the enormous economic potentials of the people.
He expressed regret that natural resource potentials in the municipalities of the Global Alliance of Mayors are under exploited leaving their young populations, to contribute to their national sustainable development, poverty eradication and job creations efforts.
He recognised the significant prospects of the partnership agreement signed with the private sector such as the Microsoft Corporation, Smart City Expo World Congress and the proposed co-operation agreement with Edison Learning in the United States.
Dr Vanderpuje said culture, education, tourism and sports play important and vital roles in the development processes of the African and the Diaspora.
He urged African Mayors to fast-track international agreements to generate cultural, social, economic, commercial, recreational, academic and investment opportunities for human progress.
The Global Alliance of Mayors declared an ambitious Plan of Action that would require political will from African leaders to develop a road map for urban and rural communities.
Dr Vanderpuje said: “This road map will assist cities to have greater opportunities to establish effective twinning agreements, identification of best practices, training of professionals and stronger HIV and AIDS response.”
It will also allow for public private partnerships, promotion of women’s empowerment, youth development initiatives, early childhood education and higher education.
Veep Amissah-Arthur, Dr Vanderpuje and Enoch Teye Mensah in a group photograph