President John Evans Atta Mills on Wednesday called on traditional authorities, local and foreign non-governmental organizations to partner government to improve the lives of the people. He commended and welcomed efforts by traditional leaders and non governmental organizations for their complementary role in nation building, adding that any activity that brought the community together must be encouraged. The President made the call when a high powered delegation from the Sister Cities International, led by its Board Chairman Michael Hyatt, called on him at the Castle. The delegation is attending the Africa Global Sister Cities Foundation's Second Annual Conference in Accra. President Mills described the visit of the delegation, which included very prominent Ghanaian traditional leaders, as a privilege and honour, saying the activities of the Sister Cities, traditional rulers and government would go to the benefit of the people. He added that both parties stood to benefit from such alliances despite their levels of development. Created by former US President Dwight Eisenhower in 1956, US based Sister Cities is an international non-profit citizen diplomacy network that creates and strengthens partnerships between U.S. and international communities. It operates in more than 600 communities in the US, partnered in more than 2,500 communities in over 130 countries around the world including Ghana, where it has four sister cities. The organization strives to build global cooperation at the municipal level, promote cultural understanding and stimulate economic development. President Mills reiterated the need for power to be used to satisfy and raise the standard of living of the people, saying government would encourage such exchanges to satisfy the core values of progress and healthy partnerships with the people. He assured that government would encourage a peaceful atmosphere to attract good partnership and investors while expressing the hope that the link between US Sister Cities would be extended to more communities. Some of the members of the delegation were Nana S.K.B. Asante, Asante Asokore Hene, Wulugunaba Prof John Nabila, President of the National House of Chiefs, Kumbun Naa Yiri, Alhaji Iddrisu Abu and Mamaga Amgaega Kofibra, Queenmother of Peki Traditional Area. Source: GNA