By Kodjo Adams, GNA
Accra, Sept 26, GNA – Nana Osei Bonsu, the
Chief Executive Officer of Private Enterprise Federation, has lauded government
for its commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, saying “the
country has covered 14 out the 17 goals”.
He stated that government social
interventions, including the one district one factory, free Senior High School,
one village one dam, planting for food and jobs and the implementation of the
National Health Insurance Scheme had all contributed in achieving the goals.
Mr Osei Bonsu said this on Tuesday in Accra at
a panel discussion to mark the third anniversary of the SDGs and the launched of
the Africa Development Partners Awards.
The programme was on the theme: “Achieving the
SDGs by 2030: Celebrating three years of Collective Action.”
He said the private sector investment was
critical in the attainment of the goals, adding that it was necessary for
government to build effective synergies with the private institutions to ensure
the realisation of the goals.
Mr Osei Bonsu said the private sector needed
the enabling environment to thrive and create job opportunities for the teeming
youth to reduce the unemployment rate in the country.
“We believe in meaningful jobs that will
liberate the poor to an appreciable level and improve their living condition.
This can be done with effective public-private partnership”, he added.
He affirmed private sector support to expand
businesses to cater for the needs of the citizenry and urged government to
support the private sector to provide the needed infrastructural development.
Dr Felix Addo, the Deputy Director in charge
of Environmental Policy, National Development Planning Commission, said the
Commission had created a firm foundation through the establishment of robust
institutions for the achievement of the goals.
He said about 70 per cent of the goals were
incorporated in the country’s policy, adding that the agencies and the
municipal and district assemblies have all in one way implemented projects
related to the SGDs.
Dr Addo said the country had launched the SDG
Baseline Report to give a sense of purpose and develop proactive strategies in
achieving the SDG targets in 2030.
He said government had instituted a
statistical assessment to identify the weaknesses and strength in statistical
system and work out measures to strengthened data eco-system to be used as a
one-stock data.
Mr William Addo, the Assistant Chief Technical
Officer, Ghana Statistical Service, said the service had enjoyed good
collaboration with government and institutions in providing accurate data for
planning purposes.
He said government was working on statistical
bill to standardise all data in one platform to serve a wider population and as
well ensure quality and accurate data.
Mr Emmanuel Ametepey, the Executive Director
of Youth Advocates Ghana, said the youth had been in the fore front in
implementing programmes to create awareness about the SDGs in the country.
He said the youth had organised workshops,
seminars and engagements with Senior High Schools to educate them on the SDGs
and their role in achieving the goals.
He stated that the youth had developed a work
plan and submitted to various institutions for support to continue with the
education of the SDGs across the country and called for assistance from the
corporate institutions.
Mr Ametepey expressed worry about the neglect
of the youth in national policy discussions and urged government to consider
their inputs especially people living in the rural who were most often not
considered in any programmes of interest.
GNA