By Mildred Siabi-Mensah
Takoradi, Nov. 11, GNA – Dr Felix Addo-Yobo, the Deputy Director and Advisor on Sustainable Development Goals and Advisory Unit, Office of the President, has called for effective inter-company collaboration to learn from each other, to build a sustainable society for all.
He said it was critical for companies to forge alliances to promote an enabling environment where humanity and the planet were safeguarded.
Dr Addo-Yobo said this during bright conversations online by MTN Ghana as part of its Sustainability Week celebrations on the theme: “From Compliance to Opportunity, Embedding Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) in Business”.
The Sustainability Week was to raise awareness about environmental and social issues, inspire positive change, and reinforce its commitment to sustainable development.
He said MTN Ghana was dedicated to fostering a sustainable future and enhancing the well-being of society.
Dr Addo -Yobo advised companies to embrace sustainability as it was an area business could use to become competitive.
He said ESG provided enormous opportunities for companies to compete and also drive innovation and it should become a passion for companies that would drive them to meet the needs of people without compromising their future.
Dr Addo-Yobo commended MTN Ghana for the chart they were pursuing in providing opportunities and smart solutions to the many challenges confronting the world today.
Mr Bernard Owusu Ansah, the Manager, Governance, Risk and Compliance at KPMG, noted that ESG was a framework needed by companies to measure the kind of impact they were delivering to society.
“Sustainability is for all and each and every one has to understand their roles and play it accordingly”.
He called on the private sector to contribute their quota towards the country’s progress, adding that, though Ghana was on the right path, there was still a big gap pertaining to financing when it came to issues of ESG.
Ms Mina Pokuaa Agyemang, a Participant Engagement and Outreach Manager, United Nations (UN) Global Compact-Ghana, spoke on the foundation of sustainability by the UN and all its member States in 2015, leading to the creation of the 17 world Sustainable Development Goals.
She said the SDGs were aimed at providing effective peace and prosperity for people and the planet and indicated that the ESG was a guide for companies to put measures in place to contribute positively to impact communities and the world at large.
She therefore advised companies to integrate sustainability into their models to make them profitable, while taking advantage of the use of Artificial Intelligence and other technologies that could help their companies to thrive.
GNA