Amissah Arthur Lauds UN organizations in the country

By Maxwell Okamafo Asamani Addo

The vice president Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur yesterday lauded the efforts of the United Nations Ghana country team, the umbrella body of UN agencies operating in the Country for the good job they are doing in the county that covers a broad area. including deprived communities.

And that Ghana recognizes the the critical role the these agencies play in the country and urged that what we need is coherence and coordination which would go a long way to enhanced the activities through their coordination as a body so as to help us achieve the MDGs .

So has tasked the ministry of finance to set up an office for effective coordination with these agencies so that things would move on systematically with these agencies.

He made the statement yesterday when heads of the united nationsbody's in the country called on him at the flagstaff house to share ideas and also brain storm over some t issues that would help to also facilitate their work and also reduce the cost of transaction for the un assistance frame work for Ghana and and it development agenda.

The leader of the delegation Madam Ruby Sandhu-Rojon, UN Resident Coordinator, explained that the UN operate in the country through 24 UN agencies which work together to support Ghana to achieve the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) but unfortunately only 15 were able to attend because of their duty schudle that has taken them outside the country .

She stated that they were also very happy working in Ghana and that. These agencies whose work is mostly centered in deprived areas of the country which include Sustainable Environment, Energy and Human Settlement, Food Security and Nutrition, Human Development and Improved Social Services as well as Transparent and Accountable Governance Aids and others.

And also help Ghana as a group thus collectivity in diversity so as to reduce poverty in the country at a time that Ghana has achieved a middle income status and also lock at the vulnerable areas in the country so that they would be able to support them from 2013 and beyond so as to achieve the MDGs.

The some of the organizationsthat came wereUNICEF, UNHCR, UNDP, UNAIDS, World Food Programme, FAO, UNIDO, WHO, UNESCO, WORLD BANK IMF,, ILO, IOM UNHCR and others.

She further stated that they also channeled resources needed to carry out activities for the 2012 to 2016 like climate change, maternal and child health, human and food security. She said maternal health issues are of major concern despite efforts at curbing high maternal mortality rate.

Madam Sandhu-Rojon expressed the need for Ghana to explore more actions aim at checking the rate. She further stated that other development issues as of higher importance and give them the necessary credence and importance through the promotion, education and sensitization of the citizens.

Mr Ismail Omer, Country Director, WFP .The UNDP Country Director, Dr Kamil Kayode Kamaluddeen.