UN Day 2023 Statement by Ghana's Foreign Minister, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey

It is my pleasure to welcome you all to the flag-raising ceremony being held to commemorate   the 78th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. Your presence is an indication of your commitment to partner with the Government of Ghana and the United Nations to make the world a better place. We are commemorating this anniversary  at a time when the world is at the edge of a precipice, where UN Member States have barely bounced back from the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic, and are making strenuous efforts to navigate economic difficulties brought about by  the ongoing  Russian Ukraine war, various natural and manmade disasters in many parts of the world (i.e. devastating floods, earthquakes, forest fires, political instability, conflict and terrorism) which have displaced communities  as well as destroyed their livelihoods and their normal way of life.

Against the backdrop of these global challenges, the United Nations has played, and now continues to play a pivotal role in addressing these challenges. Like a chain, the UN is as strong as its weakest member, which makes it imperative that the UN makes every effort to ensure that even the smallest member state is enabled with the requisite capacity to tackle the challenges of inequality, climate change, gender equality, and human rights among others. While much has been  achieved since its founding and, indeed, many of its Member States credit their very existence to the UN, it can also be said that the UN has remained an organisation of unequals. Ghana therefore reiterates its call for a reformed UN, especially of the Security Council as set out in Africa’s common position on UN reform, based on the Ezulwini Consus.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

It is appropriate therefore that the 78 Anniversary of the United Nations is being celebrated under the theme:  "Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability for all." The theme encapsulates the essential ideals of "peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability" which are sine-qua-non for our very survival and can be realised largely through solidarity in an atmosphere of trust.

With the ongoing global turmoil, heightened by unprecedented connectivity and interdependence among nations, these four concepts take on a renewed significance, highlighting the need for UN Member States to strive for peace and resolve conflicts through diplomacy and dialogue. This collaborative ethos should underpin the journey towards prosperity, not solely in terms of economic advancement, but also a holistic elevation of human well-being. Harnessing the power of technological innovation and inclusive policies, progress becomes a collective endeavour, empowering societies to address pressing challenges such as climate change, poverty, and inequality. At the heart of this transformation lies the principle of sustainability, advocating for responsible stewardship of our planet's resources and the equitable distribution of benefits.

Excellencies,

In Ghana, the theme for this 78th Anniversary is “Accelerating action towards the SDGs and the 2030 agenda: Ghana’s contributions for a peaceful, prosperous, progressive and a sustainable future”. As emphasised by the President of Ghana H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in his address to the 78th United Nations General Assembly last month, Ghana like many other countries was making progress with the 17 SDGs with the  hope of achieving the 2030 target until the COVID-19 pandemic derailed our efforts. Since the pandemic, we have had to grapple with various challenges, not least the Russia-Ukraine war, global financial and economic difficulties and terrorism. Our own economic challenges indicate that we will not be able to achieve most of the 21 targets designated for achievement by 2023. The 2023 SDG Report even indicates that just 12 % of the SDGs targets are on track to be achieved while progress on 50% of the targets is weak and that we have retrogressed or stalled in the achievement of more than 30% of the targets. Again, as stressed by H.E. the President, it is within our capacity to turn this negative trend around.

To that end, I am happy to share some of Government’s  efforts to achieve the SDGs. While  Ghana has made some strides, there is still room for improvement.  Some of the efforts being made include:

i) a ban on illegal mining, deepened engagement and collaboration with stakeholders including traditional authorities, academia, and the clergy to salvage our deteriorating environment and water resources;

ii)       engagements with UN agencies in Ghana and other development partners and relevant institutions towards developing progressive national commit­ments to SDG transformation.

iii)      Improving and strengthening the data ecosystem to report on the SDGs

iv)      Strengthening financial and resource mobilization mechanisms and;

v)       Strengthening innovative research monitoring and evaluation systems.

Furthermore, it is our hope that the national commitments such as the Climate Prosperity Plan would reflect in important transitions and areas for investment that will help maximise progress across the SDGs and produce a national benchmark for reducing poverty and inequality by 2027.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The President of the Republic continues to show commitment by leading the charge for renewed and inclusive multilateralism at the United Nations Security Council level, where he advocated representativeness of the Security Council, comprehensive and broad-based preventive diplomacy as well as global level multilateralism with regional partnerships. Collectively, we can and must take measures that ensure that our actions yield the desired outcomes.  It is only then that we can be propelled towards a future marked by equitable progress, harmonious coexistence, and the preservation of our planet for generations to come.  

In conclusion, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, it is important for us as stakeholders to remind ourselves that increased cooperation and collaboration is the way to confront our challenges. This can be done by ensuring that we work for peace and prosperity while making use of technological innovation for progress and sustainability.  The need for each one to play their part cannot be overemphasized.

I thank you for your kind attention!