Achieving SDGs not a charity agenda – World Bank Country Director

World Bank Country Director to Ghana, Mr Henry Kerali has said the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) should not be regarded as a charity agenda but rather, a collective and shared responsibility of both government and citizens.

“Meeting the SDGs is not a role for the government only but a collective responsibility. It’s a responsibility that involves the private sector, development partners and of course, it involves the government as I mentioned earlier.” he said.

Speaking on the topic ‘Mobilizing private and public financial resources to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs in Ghana’, Mr Kerali hinted that the main aim of the Sustainable Development Goals in Ghana is to end poverty in the country.

He added that, ‘one key area government and all stakeholders could look at in combating poverty in the country is to focus on deprived communities and make sure all have access to resources. This, when done would lead to the sustainable development of Ghana’.

UNDP Assistant Country Director to Ghana, Louis Kuukpen noted that, statistics from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in the achievement of the SDGs by 2030 would require an annual investment of 5-7 trillion dollars globally.

In a panel discussion of the Ghana Finance Week 2018 held at the Marriott Hotel in Accra, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, Chief Executive Officer of Groupe Nduom reiterated the need for government to involve the youth in their strategies in order to achieve the SDGs in Ghana because of the creativity and innovative skills they possess.

He also urged the youth to make use of opportunities when given to them and not to see them as liabilities.

All dignitaries present commended government for its efforts in building public confidence by creating the necessary enabling environments conducive for sustainable development.