Turkish delegation calls on President

President Mahama made the call Wednesday when the Mayor of Samsun in Turkey, Mr Yusuf Ziya Yilmaz, called on him at the Flagstaff House, Kanda in Accra.

Mr Yilmaz, who is leading an eight-member Turkish delegation, is in the country at the invitation of the AMA Chief Executive, Dr Alfred Vanderpuije.

He was led to the seat of government by the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alhaji Collins Dauda; the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Julius Debrah, and the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Zoomlion Waste Management Company, Mr Joseph Siaw Agyepong.

President Mahama said as a result of commercial activities in Accra, the city's population had increased significantly, which had put a lot of pressure on the limited houses in the city, with the attendant increasing generation of liquid and solid waste.

He said it was important for officials of the AMA and Samsun "to go beyond talking" and zoom into action to improve the housing and sanitation situation in Accra.

The President said during his visit to Turkey in January this year, at the invitation of Turkish President Abdullah Gulthat, he initiated the city relations between Istanbul and Accra and between Samsun and Accra.

In his remarks, Mr Yilmaz said Samsun had a great potential for trade owing to its closeness to the Black Sea.

He said the city engaged in trade with Russia, Romania and other countries, adding that Samsun was ready to do business with Accra for the benefit of both cities.

Dr Vanderpuije said during a separate visit to Turkey early this year, at the instance of President Mahama, he had signed a memorandum of understanding for city relations between Istanbul and Accra and between Samsun and Accra.

Story by Musah Yahaya Jafaru