Urgent action needed to achieve SDGs – UN

The United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in Ghana, Dr Charles Abani, has called for urgent action and international collaborations to achieve the Sustainable Develop­ment Goals (SDGs) amidst the surging global challenges.

He said a report released by the UN revealed that more than half of the world is falling behind in achieving the Sustainable Devel­opment Goals (SDGs), with just 12 per cent of the SDG targets deemed to be on track.

“Also, progress on 50 per cent of these targets is described as weak and insufficient, while over 30 per cent have either stalled or regressed, painting a bleak picture of global efforts to address these critical objec­tives,” he said.

He said the 2030 Agenda, aimed at eradicating poverty, promoting gender equality, and combating climate change, may become an unattainable dream unless immedi­ate action was taken.

Dr Abani, said this in an interac­tion with journalists at the SDGs Consultative Meeting on Ghana’s Circular Economy and Bridging the SDG Financial Gap on Tues­day in Accra.

He underscored the importance of global solidarity and commit­ment to address the urgent issues highlighted in the SDG Progress Report.

“It’s a tough story and there is a crisis, but it is not undoable. With the right kind of global commitment in resourc­es around priorities and the right national identification of the pri­orities that apply in each country, achieving the SDGs is not beyond us,” he stated.

According to him, by working together, the collective impact could exceed the sum of its parts, “However, formidable challenges persist, exacerbated by the linger­ing socioeconomic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic”.

He said the global crises, includ­ing disruptions in trade, surges in food prices, and escalating infla­tion, were disproportionately af­fecting vulnerable populations and have far-reaching consequences.

“Despite the significant challeng­es highlighted in the recent United Nations report on the progress of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), there remains a glimmer of hope on the horizon.

“This hope is fuelled by the recognition that the global commu­nity has the potential to overcome obstacles and work collectively toward a more sustainable and equitable future,” he stated.

At the national level, Dr Abani emphasized the pivotal role of governments in enhancing re­source efficiency, forging partner­ships, particularly with the private sector, exploring innovative finan­cial models, and adopting blended approaches to maximise available resources.

He hinted that the report serves as a clarion call for immediate, concerted global action, stressing that “failure to act promptly could relegate these vital goals to the realm of missed opportunities.

Dr Richard Osei Bofah, the chief analyst speaking during a pre­sentation said that the commission is focused on prioritising five areas which include; developing effec­tive, accountable and transparent institutions in all levels, create jobs, promote economic growth, equitable and quality primary and secondary education, clean water and sanitation affordable energy as these areas of target are correlative.

According to him achieving the five SDG targets would directly lead to the attainment of 140 out of the 169 targets of the SDGs. For that matter, there is a need for us to be efficient in the use of resources as we strive to minimise waste to ensure that resources are properly distributed. He added that the least misapplication or mismanagement will affect other areas and for this reason we must be observant on the management of our resources with respect to working on these areas that will help deal with corruption, boost transparency to remove waste from the system.