Forum on SDGs slated for July 9

Accra, June 28, GNA – About 50 countries across the world will on July 9 converge at the United Nations Headquarters to deliberate on actions that would scale up the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The annual forum will present the countries a unique opportunity to highlight progress and action at the local and country-levels, as well as examine how those efforts can collectively make a greater impact globally.

Ms Irena Zubcevic, the Chief Intergovernmental Policy and Review Branch, Office of the Intergovernmental Support and Coordination for Sustainable Development, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, said the forum would provide the countries the opportunity to understudy each other in order to attain the 2030 agenda.

She stated this during an online press conference held for journalists from selected countries, stressing that the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) would serve as a critical SDG stocktaking event.

She said with the UN focus on empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality, the HLPF would focus on six Goals of the SDGs.

Issues to be consider includes Goals 4 (Quality Education), 8 (Decent Work), 10 (Reduced Inequality), 13 (Climate Action), 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institution and 17 which is Partnership.

Ms Zubcevic noted that despite the successes chalked by some of the countries, there were still numerous challenges that continued to hinder many others in realizing the 2030 dream.

“There are a lot of challenges and that calls for accelerated actions to ensure that the implementation of the SDGs achieve the targeted objectives,” she said.

Ms Zubcevic urged governments to therefore identify their priorities and allocate resources in that regard to achieve their sustainable development goals.

Mr Felix Addo-Yobo, Coordinator, SDGs Implementation Committee for the National Development Planning Committee in an interview with the media on the sidelines of the conference, said the country had made significant strides in the implementation of the SDGs despite the numerous challenges.

“When you look into Ghana’s Voluntary National Report, there are three segments which include the Regulatory and Policing Environment within which the SDGs are being implemented in Ghana, whether they are fit for purpose or support the implementation of the SDGs,” he noted.

“From the review that we did Ghana has a fairly robust implementation arrangement which is inclusive, participatory and based on multi stakeholder partnership for implementing the SDGs.

“In some places we are making progress, in fact a lot of the indicators show that we are making progress and in other areas there are issues that needed to be looked at in terms of regional disparities between the wealth quintals.

“There are also challenges with the availability of data and hence we could not report on all 200 indicators,” he stated.

There would also be around 124 side events, together with several special events to highlight the role of civil society, the business community and local governments in achieving the 2030 agenda.

GNA

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