-After Attending The 2019 Ambitious Summit of The Global Parliament of Mayors In S/Africa
The President of the Mayors’ Association of Liberia, Jefferson T. Koijee, the Mayor of Foya City, Lofa County Cecelia T. Hallie and the Mayor of Zwedru City, Grand Gedeh County Cecelia H. Jalo have returned to Liberia after participating in a three day Mayor’s conference in South-Africa.
Several Mayors from African, Asian, European and US cities gathered from 9th to the 11th of November 2019 to participate in the ambitious Annual Summit of the Global Parliament of Mayors (GPM) which was held in Durban, South-Africa.
This year’s conference focused on the most critical challenges that humankind faces in this decade, from migration and pandemic diseases to social inequality and urban security.
The Global Parliament of Mayors believes that those critical challenges that humankind faces around the world must be solved in cities.
It also believe that More than 50% of the world’s population lives in cities, so it is inconceivable that national and international bodies decide on policy actions without the cities and their mayors present as equal partners in shaping global policy.
This year GPM Summit focused on ‘Empowering Cities for the 2020s, a decade of change: shaping multi-level governance on a global scale, through its work bringing Mayors’ voices to the fore.”
The Global Parliament of Mayors also offers a complementary governance approach to the current nation states system.
Mayors Koijee, Hallie, and Jalo joined forces with their colleagues around the world to formulate progressive yet achievable resolutions to tackle critical issues confronting cities globally.
Mayor Koijee who is an Executive member of the Global Parliament of Mayors along with his colleagues from Foya and Zwedru cities respectively expressed their excitement about the summit.
They said the summit was significant because it provides a platform for Mayors to deliberate on how cities can be better equipped to deal with issues of rapid urbanization, climate change and other related issues.
According to them, working with other global mayors in an effort to promote efficiency in the delivery of services to citizens was rewarding.
They also noted that the summit was intended to ensure a clear, united message to amplify city voices in support of the 2030 Agenda for the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
More than 65 mayors including the Mayors from Beira (Mozambique), Braga (Portugal), Bristol (UK), Bulawayo (Zimbabwe), Cape Town (South Africa), Dayton (USA), Freetown (Sierra Leone), Hebron (Palestine), Kampala (Uganda), Kingston (Jamaica), Lubumbashi (Congo), Mannheim (Germany), Monrovia (Liberia), Montpellier (France), The Hague (the Netherlands) and Vyas (Nepal) participated in the Submit .
Mayor Koijee who is the chairperson on Health of the Global Parliament of Mayors has promised to continuously serve as a bridge for many more opportunities that can benefit Liberia.
According to him, several Mayors from developing Countries around the world expressed optimism to work with several cities in Liberia including Monrovia, Foyah and Zwedru.
The GPM is a unique governance body of, by, and for mayors from all continents. It functions as a parliament and brings cities to the world fore. The GPM unites, aligns, and amplifies the voices of mayors in global strategy debates with nation states and international organizations, such as the UN.
Alphonso Toweh
Has been in the profession for over twenty years. He has worked for many international media outlets including: West Africa Magazine, Africa Week Magazine, African Observer and did occasional reporting for CNN, BBC World Service, Sunday Times, NPR, Radio Deutchewells, Radio Netherlands. He is the current correspondent for Reuters
He holds first MA with honors in International Relations and a candidate for second master in International Peace studies and Conflict Resolution from the University of Liberia.
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