Accelerating Progress: Dr. Eugene Owusu Urges Swift Action
to Achieve SDGs by 2030
Dr. Eugene Owusu, Presidential Advisor on the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), has emphasized the need for accelerated
efforts to achieve the SDGs by 2030. He highlighted the urgent responsibility
of countries like Ghana to expedite policies and measures contributing to these
goals.
Dr. Owusu pointed out that Africa is on track to achieve
less than four percent of the SDGs by 2030, compared to the global projection
of 12 percent. Speaking at the SDGs Action Summit 2024 launch, he expressed
concern that, due to the world's slow progress, around 500 million Africans
will still be in extreme poverty by 2030. He identified man-made challenges
such as conflicts, policy failures, misgovernance, and the global governance
architecture as significant obstacles.
The SDGs Action Summit 2024, held before the UN General
Assembly on sustainable development goals in September, focuses on urgent
actions needed to implement Ghana’s SDGs. The summit aims to articulate
Africa’s collective call to action and revitalize the continent's commitment to
achieving the SDGs by 2030.
Despite the challenges, Dr. Owusu highlighted the abundant
opportunities within the SDGs to address these issues and promote inclusive,
sustainable development across Africa. He recommended adopting technology and
innovative measures to ensure the goals are met.
Policy advisor Dominic Asante outlined the summit’s agenda
to address policy gaps, governance, and institutional issues critical to
driving SDG action. He underscored the private sector’s vital role in this
effort. Additionally, Charles Abani, the United Nations Resident Coordinator,
emphasized the need for sustainable financing and called on international
partners to support Ghana’s vision and deliver goodwill to its citizens.
The two-day summit, themed “From Midpoint to Success:
Recommitting, Scaling Up, and Accelerating Actions on the SDGs,” is scheduled
for July 2nd and 3rd.
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