The United Nations Resident Coordinator for Ghana, Christine Evans-Klock, has reiterated the global call for the use of “will power” as a possible means to overcome all challenges of the world, calling on all Ghanaians to heed the call.
She said, “we have the tools and wealth to overcome the world’s grave challenges such as widening conflicts and inequality, extreme weather and deadly intolerance, security threats and poverty among others but what we lack is the will”.
Ms. Evans-Klock made the appeal while delivering a speech on behalf of the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, at a flag-raising ceremony in Accra to commemorate the United Nations Day on October 24, 2017.
The UN Secretary- General’s speech carries a strong message of hope intended to guide humanity from boredom to freedom as the world observes this year’s UN Day.
The message reads: “Our world faces many grave challenges. Widening conflicts and inequality. Extreme weather and deadly intolerance. Security threats – including nuclear weapons. We have the tools and wealth to overcome these challenges. All we need is the will. The world’s problems transcend borders. We have to transcend our differences to transform our future. When we achieve human rights and human dignity for all people-they will build a peaceful, sustainable and just world. On United Nations Day, let us, ‘We the Peoples’, make this vision a reality. Thank you.”
Addressing participants, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey reaffirmed government’s commitment to continue to work and collaborate with the UN organizations in its quest to find solutions to humankinds’ most pressing challenges which the Sustainable Development Goals seek to address.
“We recognize the colossal task placed on our shoulders through the global goals and the need to implement them by 2030,” she added.
According to the Minister, the achievements of the SDGs holds a prominent place on government’s development agenda.
According to her, it was the reason why government has incorporated the goals into Ghana’s 40-year development plan as well as programmes and policies such as ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’, ‘One-District, One-Factory’ and ‘Free Senior High School Education’, which was all geared towards positioning Ghana on the path of fiscal consolidation, debt sustainability, growth and development.
Ms. Ayorkor Botchwey further disclosed ideal conditions need to be created to ensure that both the public and private sectors of Ghana are oriented in ways that contribute towards sustainable development.
“This will require a significant transformation of the policy frameworks, regulatory measures, norms and standards, among others.”
She also maintained getting the policies right can unleash a host of business opportunities that can usher in inclusive economic growth, social justice and environmental stewardship.
The Minister lauded efforts by the UN Resident Coordinator, Her Excellency Christine Evans-Klock, at strengthening and further deepening cooperation between Ghana and the UN Agencies, including their continuous support and commitment towards the annual UN Day Celebrations here in Ghana.
This year’s event forms part of activities to celebrate everything the UN has achieved since its establishment in 1945 and it’s on the theme: ‘Achieving the SDGs: Innovating, Mobilizing and Partnering for the Implementation of the SDGs in Ghana’.
The UN Day has been celebrated annually on October 24 since 1948 as the day is devoted to making known all the aims and achievements of the global organization.
The flag raising ceremony climaxes the UN Day celebration in the Ghana at the national level out of numerous events earmarked to commemorate the day in different parts of the country.
It was graced by Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, Directors of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, local authorities, Heads of UN Agencies, students and the general public.
By Joseph Kobla Wemakor|UNIC, Accra|Ghana