By Eric Yaw Boakye
Atebubu, (Bono East), GNA – The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) has called for collaborative efforts to put the nation on the edge to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) by 2030.
With about five years to go, Mr. Philip Acheampong, a representative of the NDPC, underscored the need for the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to localise the 17 global goals.
That would enable stakeholders to contribute their quota towards achieving the set targets for the goals, he stated.
Mr Acheampong made the call when speaking at a stakeholder’s meeting on the Voluntary Local Review (VLR) exercise on the SDGs held at Atebubu in the Atebubu/Amantin Municipality of the Bono East Region. He highlighted the need for the MMDAs to set local targets for themselves, determining means of implementation, and developing indicators to monitor and assess the progress of the SDGs.
Mr Acheampong said the role of the local authorities could not be over-emphasised if the nation was poised to achieve the SDGs. Madam Rebecca Kumi, a Child Rights Monitoring Specialist with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), asked the Assembly to evaluate its progress on the SDGs, reflecting local realities and priorities.
“The Success of the 2030 agenda depends not only on national commitments, but on how we translate those commitments into tangible actions in people’s lives in the locality,” she stated. Ms. Vera Baffoe, also a Representative of the NDPC, gave an overview of the VLR, saying it was aimed at accelerating the attainment of the SDGs by 2030.
She explained that the SDGs focused on people, the planet, prosperity, peace and partnerships, noting that six of the goals pertain to prosperity, while four related to the economy and environment.
Mr Emmanuel Bukari, a member of the Atebubu Amantin Municipal VLR Team, presented data collected to assess the municipality’s progress in achieving the national indicators.
Earlier in a welcoming address, Mr. Joseph Tang, the Atebubu/Amantin Municipal Coordinating Director, said the municipality was excited about its selection as one of the five districts nationwide to participate in the VLR exercise on the SDGs.
GNA
DEN/BM