The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has thrown his weight behind the Akufo Addo administration’s efforts aimed at achieving the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the year 2030.
To demonstrate this commitment, what has been dubbed ‘The Kumasi Declaration on the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs),’ in honour of the late Secretary General of the UN, Busumuru Kofi Annan, held on the 15th of October, 2018, at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Kumasi, was presented to President Akufo Addo at the Jubilee House Monday, 25th of February, 2019.
In support of Akufo-Addo’s global role as co-chair of the Eminent Group of Advocates for the SDGs, the SDGs Advisory Unit with support from Fidelity Bank and Deloitte organized a Royal Dialogue on the SDGs to engage business leaders and select eminent personalities in an interactive dialogue on key imperatives for achieving the SDGs.
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The Kumasi Declaration among other things addressed the need for the government of Ghana to create the necessary enabling environment, through strategic actions and deliberate efforts, for traditional leaders, religious leaders, the private sector, academia, civil society organisations and the youth to attain the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.
The Declaration further urged government to enhance mechanisms for the mobilisation of domestic resources in support of the realisation of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development as well as create innovative and blended financing structures that can integrate public investment with traditional corporate financing.
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The Declaration also addressed the development of capital pools focused on business and infrastructure with high impact potential and the provision of prudent credit facilities to firms with viable projects which are supportive of the 2030 agenda. Another pledge that was made focused on equipping the Ghana Statistical Service with modern technology and infrastructure for the collection of vital data for monitoring, evaluating and assessing progress made in the achievement of the 2030 agenda.
Addressing representatives of a delegation of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the Jubilee House when they paid a courtesy call on him to present the Kumasi Declaration on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), President Akufo-Addo, welcomed the initiative by the Asantehene and his partners for their contribution to his efforts at attaining the SDGs.
He assured the delegation that his administration will take into consideration the recommendations so made in order to accelerate Ghana’s efforts at achieving the SDGs by the year 2030.
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A member of Otumfuo’s delegation, Ms. Maataa Opare, Group Head, Legal and Company Secretary of Fidelity Bank, in her remarks indicated that Fidelity Bank is excited to partner with the Asantehene and government in ensuring that the achievements of the SDGs are fast tracked in Ghana.
The bank, she said, is totally commitment to the SDGs and they will maintain the desire to impact the life of people through innovative financing.