Prof. Gyan-Baffuor speaking at the event. Seated on his immediate right is Dr. Bediako
THE GOVERNMENT of Ghana has, through the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), launched the Voluntary National Review (VNR) on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs).
The move is to enhance the level of inclusiveness and public awareness about the SDGs.
The VNR is a mechanism that encourages countries to voluntarily assess the progress of implementation of the SDGs and also promote knowledge and experience sharing to be able to identify the shortfalls that can be improved to help accelerate the implementation of the SDGs at all levels.
Addressing the media on Wednesday January 23, 2019, in Accra, Dr. Felix Addo-Yobo, an official of NDPC, highlighted the principles of the VNR as voluntary and country-led, open, inclusive, participatory and transparent to all people.
He further stated that innovative but rigorous methods would be used to gather data, embark on a series of thematic consultations and awareness creation then a comprehensive report would be prepared to be submitted for validation at the high level inter-ministerial committee which would later be disseminated to the public.
In his remarks, Minister of Planning, Professor George Gyan-Baffour, stated: “In response to the paragraph 79 of the 2030 agenda of SDGs, Ghana has volunteered to review the national progress towards the SDGs implementation, and to present a report to the high-level ministerial committee and the United Nations in July, 2019.”
He later encouraged all stakeholders including the media to double their efforts in localizing and popularizing the SDGS as well as Africa’s agenda 2063, since the level of awareness and knowledge of the SDGs among the general public is low.
The Convener for the Civil Society Organisation on the SDGs platform, Mr. George Osei-Bimpeh, commended the government for taking the initiative to be scrutinized under the VNR so that the implementation of the SDGs can bring positive transformations to Ghana and its citizens.
The Government of Ghana has taken several initiatives to achieve the 2030 agenda of the SDGs. The SDGs which can also be termed as the Global Goals are a worldwide call to action for the purpose of ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
BY Melvin Tarlue & Mohammed Brimah