100 Resilient Cities' President to visit Accra

Accra, April 2, GNA - Mr Michael Berkowitz, President of 100 Resilient Cities, will be arriving in Ghana next week for a two-day working visit, to guide Accra in enhancing its resilience against physical and socio-economic challenges.

A statement from 100 Resilient Cities (100 RC) said the President would engage key stakeholders at a workshop in Accra on April 7, to discuss measures to guide Accra prepare for, withstand and bounce back from chronic stresses and acute shocks.

Mr Berkowitz said stresses that affect cities include high unemployment, overtaxed or inefficient public transportation systems, endemic violence and chronic food and water shortages.

'By addressing both the shocks and the stresses, a city becomes more able to respond to adverse events', the 100 RC President said

'The agenda workshop will clarify the city's needs, surface innovative thinking, and give us a blueprint for engaging partners from across sectors to bring Accra the tools and resources needed to become more resilient', he added.

Mr Berkowitz recounted that on December 3, last year, Accra was selected as one of the first 32 members of what will ultimately be a 100-city global network, and will receive technical support and resources to develop and implement a resilience strategy.

The statement from 100 RC said the workshop will bring together stakeholders,   such as city officials, local businesses, civic groups and academia, to begin developing the city's resilience plan,   to identify priorities and actions, as part of a resilience strategy for Accra.

Dr Alfred Oko Vanderpuije,   Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive,   lauded 100 Resilient Cities,   pioneered by the Rockefeller Foundation, for dedicating to help cities around the world become more resilient to their physical, social and economic challenges.

Dr Vanderpuije pointed out that developing a comprehensive resilience plan is particularly important, because Ghana's capital city is faced with shocks, such as fires and floods, and stresses such as chronic water shortage, homelessness and unemployment.

The 100 Resilient Cities is a non-profit organization created and sponsored by Rockefeller Foundation, to help member cities survive, adapt and grow amidst their economic, social and physical challenges.

GNA