It is with great honour and pleasure that the Board and Management of Africa Global Sister Cities Foundation
( AGSCF ), cordially invite you to the grand official launching of the Africa Chapter of Sister Cities Movement and its first ever general Sister Cities, People to People Conference & Youth Summit to be held in Accra, Ghana from Sunday May 18 to Saturday May 24, 2008.
The conference which will be held at the Accra International Conference Centre, is being organized by Africa Global Sister Cities Foundation, an African Global Development Service Non Governmental Organization ( NGO ).
STATE-OF-THE-ART GLOBAL WEBSITE
The launching ceremony and the general conference are packaged together with the outdooring of a unique state-of-the-art and comprehensive global website of Africa Global Sister Cities Foundation, which happens to be the first of its kind on the African continent, to be followed by other programmes and lectures.
The website will serve as an international platform for information sharing and developmental networking among the African continent's sister cities, towns and communities with their counterparts in other continents of the world in complementing the economic development programmes of their respective countries and governments.
THE THEME FOR THE CONFERENCE IS :
STRENGTHENING SISTER CITIES PARTNERSHIPS IN AFRICA THROUGH CITIZEN DIPLOMACY IN MEETING THE UN’S MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS FOR CHANGE.
PURPOSE OF THE CONFERENCE
It has become apparent that there is a need for the establishment of an umbrella body to promote and strengthen the sister cities movement in Africa with the same objectives as those of Sister Cities International and its affiliates worldwide.
Africa Global Sister Cities Foundation was therefore established to work towards that vision, and for seven years of hard work, perseverance, dedication and its involvement in the activities of the global sister cities movement, the Foundation has now reached its phase of fulfilling its vision as an Africa Global Developmental Non-Profit Citizen Diplomacy Network Organization in Corporate Partnership with Sister Cities International.
This general conference is therefore the first of its kind to outdoor the movement in Africa.
Interestingly, this milestone event will bring together Mayors, Heads of Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies, NGOs, the Diplomatic Corps, Local Government officials, Community leaders, Business executives, Economists, Politicians, Religious and Traditional rulers, Artists and Educators from across Africa and worldwide.
These participants will discuss trade, development, cultural exchange and humanitarian issues emanating from the theme to be dealt with by experts well-versed in topics about such issues. The forum will enable the participants to attend many productive workshops and seminars and meet many people to deliberate on programme development, new business opportunities and other issues which will strengthen sister cities in Africa in meeting the UN’s Millennium Development Goals.
AGSCF with its main goal of promoting, and strengthening the affairs of sister cities affiliates in Africa has established its office in Accra, Ghana.
It is for the achievement of this ultimate goal that the grand launching of AGSCF and its first ever general conference is to take place.
Additionally, foreign participants most especially first-time visitors to Ghana, will have the golden opportunity to enjoy the proverbial Ghanaian hospitality through special receptions, dinners and excursions that will be organized to spice up the week's programme of activities.
CONFERENCE STAGE
The planned conference will be addressed by Sister Cities executives and other honoured distinguished personalities from Africa and other parts of the world.
YOUTH SUMMIT
I am equally delighted to share the news of an AGSCF Youth Summit that will focus mainly on the detailed discussion of the role of the youth worldwide as stakeholders in the implementation of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals ( MDGs) under the theme:
THE ROLES OF THE SISTER CITIES YOUTH IN MEETING THE UN’S MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS.
I believe that this special youth summit on the UN’s MDGs in Ghana to which various Sister Cities youth organizations worldwide are invited to participate, will ensure that our deserving young ones will benefit fully from debating and understanding the demands of the UN’s MDGs.
We cordially invite interested youth between the ages of 15 - 25 and freshmen of the university and student group representatives from all countries to participate in this very special youth summit.
Sister Cities affiliates and other organizations worldwide are to kindly note, promote and arrange to bring along to the AGSCF general conference, interested youths from their respective cities or countries who are knowledgeable on the United Nations Millennium Development Goals Agenda for participation in the youth summit.
MAYORAL CONFERENCE
As part of the conference, there will be Mayoral Conference during which participating mayors from Africa and other parts of the world will discuss means of fostering good relationship between them. They will also dwell on Globalization and Local Economic Development in meeting the UN's Millennium Development Goals and examine cross - cutting global economic issues affecting local communities.
The conference will explore innovative technology, international tourism and international economic development strategies. Panelist will discuss effective strategies that local and state government can utilize and discuss how Sister City's relationship can respond to challenges and opportunities in economic development.
We urge all Sister Cities relation mayors across the world to participate in this session of the conference. Mayors who are interested in being resource persons and want to address the conference should contact us.
PARADE OF NATIONS
On Monday the 19th May 2008, the conference will begin with assembling of all participants present for a colourful flag Parade of Nations and march to the Accra International Conference Centre with one's respective country flags for identification. All participants are therefore urged to give all seriousness to this and come along with miniature flags of their respective countries for the march.
CORPORATE PARTNERS
We wish to stretch a hand of invitation to corporate bodies, developmental organizations and NGO's which would like to support and partner with us in the developmental process of Africa Global Sister Cities Foundation. Please register and come and join us for this one week historic conference. Let us know how you intend to participate or otherwise. Your kind support in the form of Donations, Sponsorship and any other assistance for the Africa Global Sister Cities Foundation's programmes and projects are highly welcome.
IN CLOSING
By attending this unique conference in Ghana, you will leave with a new and profound knowledge on the values and culture, and appreciation of the challenges of the African continent.
You will have the opportunity of meeting your peers and contemporaries from Africa and enjoy part of the finest of the Ghanaian ( African ) culture.
Enclosed is the conference Registration Form.
Completed forms should be returned to us at AGSCF early enough to enable us deal with all the appropriate logistics to be finalized on time.
Africa Global Sister Cities Foundation is proud to plan and host the first ever annual general conference of the African Sister Cities Chapter in Ghana.
We are working diligently to make this conference an interesting, memorable and above all, a historic one.
We believe your participation in this conference will be extremely worthwhile and fulfilling. We look forward to meeting you in Accra, the capital city of Ghana in May 2008.
Very sincerely yours,
Prince Kwame Kludjeson
President-Chair
Africa Global Sister Cities Foundation. |
