The United Nations Sustainable Development Partnership with Ghana is a reflection of the shared commitment to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Ghana and also project the country as a middle-income country rather than a receiver of aid.
This was made known by the Minister for Planning, Hon. Prof. George Gyan-Baffour, during a Media launch of the United Nations Sustainable Development Partnership (UNSDP) framework on Monday, October 29, 2018 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.
The Media launch was to help increase awareness of the Partnership Agreement between Ghana and the United Nations office in Ghana. It was held as part of the activities to commemorate the UN Day which fell on October 24, 2018.
Hon. Gyan-Baffour indicated that the UNSDP which would be implemented for the next 5 years had been aligned with the country’s Coordinated Programme of Economic and Social Development Policies, 2017-2024 (CPESDP). The CPESDP aims at transforming agriculture and industry, revamping economic and social infrastructure, enhanced social development, reformed and improved delivery by institutions of government, youth employment and articulates a self-reliant pathway to economic transformation and inclusive growth.
He intimated that “Ghana’s national development incorporates global development commitments, including 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Africa Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change”.
He reiterated the Government’s commitment to implement programmes that would ensure the development of the country. He added that Ghana did well with goal one of the Millennium Development Goals which was to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger and is also making progress with goal one of the SDGs which is targeted towards eradicating poverty. He added that efforts would be made to achieve other key goals to propel the country towards rapid development.
The Minister commended the UN country team for their commitment to the SDGs as well as the Sustainable Development Partnership. He urged all stakeholders to work to “facilitate the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Partnership in order not to leave anyone behind”. He further urged the Media to continue to play its role in educating the public on the role of the SDGs.
Speaking at the media launch, the Acting Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ambassador Albert Yankey, commended the UN office for continuously collaborating with the Ministry and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to implement the partnership programmes and also bring the activities of the UN closer to the public.
Ambassador Yankey indicated that the SDGs are not only ambitious but are also achievable. He added that “government has integrated the SDGs into national development plans and will collaborate with the UN to engender ownership and acceptability among Ghanaians and also promote the wider dissemination, application and implementation at national and sub-national levels”.
He said the government remains committed to the ideals of the UN and would ensure the manifestation of the benefits of the SDGs which include the “elimination of poverty at all levels without leaving anyone behind”. He urged the media to leverage on the benefits of technology to make the national development vision and strategic partnership framework a reality.
The United Nations Resident Coordinator, H.E Ms. Christie Evans-Klock, for her part said the UN Sustainable Development Partnership reflects two commitments, which firstly, signifies the nature of work of the UN as partners with Ghana rather than provider of assistance or aid, which is appropriate for Ghana as a rising Lower-Middle income country. Secondly, it focuses on UN interventions on the shared commitment to meet the SDGs.
Ms. Evans-Klock commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for accepting to be co-chair of the UN Secretary-General’s Group of SDG Eminent Advocates. She further stated that “it would help Ghana drive and achieve the principles of the SDGs to leave no one behind, improve equity by first meeting the needs of those who are furthest behind, promote gender equality and ensure access to justice for all”.
She urged the country to among other things invest more in social protection programmes. She called for the need to share information on the development programmes and added that the UN office was also doing its best to collaborate with all stakeholders to educate the public on the SDGs and the Partnership framework.
