By Maame Agyeiwaa Agyei
(maamedag@gmail.com)
The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has presented awards to industrious natives and past mayors of Accra. The event, which saw the presentation of awards to over 30 personalities, was under the theme, “Mayor’s Ball/Awards Night 2015.”
Among the many illustrious individuals who grabbed the awards were Messrs. Enoch Teye Mensah, Nat Nunoo Amarteifio, Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson, Professor Attuquaye Okine, John Saaka Addo, Justice V.C.R.A.C. Crabbe, Oberempong Nii Kojo Ababio V, Chief Imam Sheik Osman Nuhu Sharabutu and Azumah Nelson among others.
Also, a 112 year old woman, Nora Nortey Nartey, who was among the first batch of matrons of the Achimota School, and the longest serving Presiding Member of the AMA, was awarded.
Outstanding assembly members and some staff of the Assembly, including, Chief Joseph Okine, Head of the Metro Guards, and Inspector Edward Lartey, who has served as a driver to all Mayors of the Accra Metropolis, were awarded for dedication and long service.
The Mayor of Accra, Dr. Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, maintained that, as a nation, there was the need for all to appreciate the roles individuals play in ensuring the socio-economic development of the nation, hence the awards.
According to him, both past and present staff members of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly have held the fort through thick and thin, in ensuring that there was massive infrastructure development, and making life comfortable for people in the metropolis.
Vanderpuije mentioned the construction of 107 millennium city schools to ensure quality education, reconstruction of roads and drains, construction of waste plant, reconstruction of 13 markets in the metropolis, and the construction of the Millennium City Complex to house the AMA, as some of his achievements as Mayor of Accra.
He paid glowing tribute to the staff of the Assembly for their dedicated service and commitment to duty.
His Lordship Justice John Ajet-Nasam, who represented the Chief Justice, Georgina Theodora Woode as the Guest of Honour, averred that the ball and the awards night had come at an opportune time, since a nation that failed to honour its heroes was not worth dying for.
According to him, the Metropolitan, Municipal and District assemblies (MMDAs) have significant roles to play in addressing lack of amenities and infrastructure, as there is growing population and demand for these things.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Nii Osa Mills, who was the Chairman of the occasion, assisted the Mayor to give awards to the deserving personalities.