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Dr. Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, Chief Executive of Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), has pledged that efforts would be made to transform Accra into a modern city that could be able to meet challenges of contemporary times. The Accra Mayor said he would ensure that Accra had regular water and electricity supply, clean environment and good roads, effective drainage system and good private and public toilets. Dr Vanderpuije was speaking at the first joint four-day meeting between AMA and a delegation of the Earth Institute of the Columbia University, to deliberate on how to develop Accra into a Millennium city, which commenced in Accra on Saturday. He said challenges were opportunities that could be turned into benefits and profitable events and noted: "we live in the 21st Century and we cannot deny our people development. AMA has a responsibility to drive the edges and bring development to our people" The Mayor told the delegation that Accra had problems including AMA's inability to manage solid and liquid waste and said: "it is so embarrassing how liquid waste is disposed off in the country". Dr. Vanderpuije said this resulted in the malfunctioning of sewage lines, constructed since Ghana's Independence, which needed to be replaced. He said AMA had a seven-point vision for Accra, which included the decongestion of the city and improving sanitation, housing, health and education. Dr. Vanderpuije expressed worry about the standards of public schools, saying that the shift system impeded academic work and that 2000 more classroom needed to be built to accommodate more than 70,000 pupils in the metropolis. He said that: "We are committed and will roll our sleeves and tap into your rich experiences to make Accra a city befitting it status" The Accra Mayor said that efforts would be made to ensure that the people in the city conducted themselves well, there was effective transportation system, modern hospitals and good housing programme to meet the accommodation needs of the people.