Ghana to present its maiden SDGs’ VNR report at UN

Accra, July 4, GNA – Ghana will present its first Voluntary National Review (VNR) report at the 2019 High Level Political Forum (HLPF) at the United Nations (UN), on Wednesday, 17 July in New York.

The presentation forms part of the follow-up and review arrangements for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

A statement signed by Madam Akosua Danquah Ntim Sekyere, the Head of Public Relations of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Thursday, said the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development encourages member states, both developed and developing countries, to conduct regular and inclusive reviews of progress at the national and sub-national levels, which are country-led and country-driven.

It said these national reviews form the basis for the regular assessment of progress by member countries at the high-level political forum.

It noted that during the 73rd UN General Assembly meeting in 2018, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced that Ghana would present its VNR in 2019.

The statement said this was to afford the country the opportunity to take stock of the progress of implementation of the 2030 Agenda, share experiences, and also learn from other member states, with the view to accelerating the implementation of the SDGs.

“Ghana’s VNR process was coordinated by the SDGs Implementation Coordinating Committee (ICC), under the supervision of the High Level Ministerial Committee on SDGs,” it said.

“The process had three main components, namely; the policy and regulatory environment for implementing the SDGs; progress of implementation of the 17 goals; and three cross-cutting themes – Youth engagement in the SDGs; Leave no one behind and Synergies across the goals.”

The statement said the VNR process was inclusive and participatory with the participation of a wide range of stakeholders at the national and sub-national levels. It said the stakeholders included parliamentarians, civil society organisations, the private sector, school children, traditional authorities and academia.

It noted that the process was also used to enhance public awareness, foster national ownership, and encourage the involvement of key stakeholders in the implementation of the SDGs.

It said Ghana, as part of its participation in the 2019 HLPF, would host a side event under the theme; “Building Partnerships for SDGs – Government, Civil Society, Private Sector and Traditional Authorities.”

It noted that the objective of the side event on Partnerships (Goal 17) was to share Ghana’s innovative partnership implementation arrangements with member states, focusing on how the government of Ghana had created the necessary enabling environment for traditional leaders, religious leaders, the private sector, media, academia, civil society organisations and the youth to contribute to the attainment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

It said Ghana’s side event was scheduled for Wednesday July 10, 2019 at the UN.

It said the side event would have representatives from the traditional authority, private sector and civil society, make statements on what their contributions had been towards the implementation of the SDGs; challenges, success stories and recommendations for the attainment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

It said the Governments of Norway and Rwanda would be co-hosts of Ghana’s side event, and would provide some European and other African countries perspective on the topic.

It said Ghana would mount an exhibition at the same event under the theme; “A People-Centred Agenda: A Catalyst for Sustainable Development”, where some interventions by government to empower, ensure inclusiveness, and promote gender equality in Ghana would be showcased.

It noted that this year’s HLPF, under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is under the theme, “Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality”.

The statement said the set of goals to be reviewed in depth at the forum are SDGs four, eight, 10, 13, 16 and 17.

It said the forum was scheduled from Tuesday July 9, to Thursday July 18, 2019; including a three-day ministerial meeting of the forum from Tuesday July 16, to Thursday July 18 2019.

GNA