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Ghana must implement its human rights obligations to achieve agenda 2030

By
Hafsa Obeng/Jennifer Quaye, GNA

Accra, Dec. 12, GNA
– Nana Chinbuah, Head, Democratic Governor Cluster UNDP, has said Ghana could only
achieve agenda 2030 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SGD) by implementing
its human rights obligations.

She said “if we want
to achieve the SGD 2030 and also live in an inclusive and peaceful world where
we can all enjoy sustainable prosperity, then implementing Ghana’s human rights
obligations is a critical part that cannot be taken for granted”.

Nana Chinbuah said
this at a two day national strategic multi-stakeholder workshop on mid-term
reporting under the United Nations (UN) Universal Periodic Review (UPR)
mechanism in Accra.

The workshop which
was organized by The Protector of Sentiments Foundation, in partnership with
the Office of the Attorney General and the United Nations Development Funds was
held under the theme: “Training and compilation of reports towards the
submission of Ghana’s mid-term report on the third UPR cycle”.

She said UPR
mechanism is a unique human rights mechanism to track the fulfillment of each
states human right obligation and commitment towards the recommendations.

She said promoting
respect for human right and redress for human rights violations are critical
evidence from the work in progress not just at UNDP but across all UN agencies,
and it was for this reason that the UN works in partnership with government and
Civil Society Organizations (CSO’s).

“We recognize that
when we reach out to empower the poorest and vulnerable in society, when we
support Ghana to build strong, just and inclusive institutions and the
provision of essential public services and infrastructure, we are helping put
in place the necessary enabling conditions for people to live their lives with
dignity.”

Nana Chinbuah said
mobilizing resources for human rights was much more difficult in this current
climate, however, human rights remained an important priority for UNDP and the
UN.

She urged the CSO’s
to remain resolute in their commitment to promoting respect for and protection
of human rights in Ghana; and expressed the hope that the training would
contribute to strengthening the already formidable front of Ghana’s CSO’s on
the UPR platform.

Madam Ugonna
Ukaigwe, National Coordinator, Ghana CSO’s Platform on SDG’s, said SDG’s
represents the vision of the world Africans want by 2030, for the world to be
good where people’s freedoms and rights are protected.

She said as a
country, Ghana has made tremendous efforts to put herself in the right
direction to implement the SDGs and this cannot be achieved if we have a poor
human rights record.

“If we are to do
this then Ghana would be a champion of the SDGs and at the same time with a
great human rights record.”

Mr Gilbert Onyango,
UPR Info Africa, said there is no other way to ensure that recommendations made
would be effective unless they are implemented.

He said the mid-term
reporting under the UPR was not a mandatory requirement of the UN but a best
practice that enable CSO’s keep government in check and ensure that the
recommendations were being followed.

Mr Jonathan Osei
Owusu, Executive Director and Convener UPR CSO’s Platform, said under the UPR mechanism,
Member States were encouraged to submit mid- term report to the HRC before the
end of a cycle which severs as a guide to the monitoring process.

He said the workshop
was to serve as a trigger for government action on recommendations that has not
received attention so far before the end of the cycle, to build the capacity of
participants on mid- term reporting under the UPR,  provide tools to enable participants collate
activity report for Ghana’s mid- term report.

GNA

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