Dignitaries in a group photograph
Member of the UK House of Lords, Lord Paul Boateng, has emphasized the need for the government to prioritize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets to address the unique challenges faced by citizens.
During the 2024 Annual Leadership Lecture at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Lord Boateng stressed the importance of Ghana and Africa’s commitment to achieving the SDGs targets.
He highlighted that meeting these goals would significantly impact poverty reduction, healthcare, education, and economic growth in the continent, considering the unique development challenges it faces.
Lord Boateng stated that the SDG targets are crucial for realising not only personal ambitions but also the broader ambitions represented by the SDGs.
He emphasised the interconnection of the SDGs, citing that delivering clean water and sanitation supports SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).
“There is no way you can be serious about girls’ education unless every school has safe sanitary conditions for the girls because if you don’t have that it means girls in their period will not go to school,” he said.
Lord Boateng added that while the SDGs are long time plan there is a need to keep an eye on the plan to achieve the target.
This year’s lecture is themed, “Fulfilling the Promise – The Challenge of Leadership: Moving from Rhetoric to Delivery.” Lord Boateng implied that the average Ghanaian still struggles to afford comfortable living.
“33% of urban residents live in formal housing, 12% of people are still without portable drinking water, and 84% are without safely managed sanitation.”
“We have to move beyond survival, we have to scale up to succeed. The promise must be realised here and now. The missing ingredient is leadership” he said.
The sixth Annual Leadership Lecture was attended by distinguished diplomats including the First Lady, Rebecca Akufo Addo, Senior Minister Yaw Osafo-Maafo, UPSA Vice Chancellor, Abednego Feehi Okoe Amartey among others.
Past distinguished speakers at the UPSA Annual Leadership Lecture include Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambers, former President John Agyekum Kufuor, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, and renowned economist, Kwame Pianim.
BY Prince Fiifi Yorke
Picture saved in New Daily as SDG Targets