Ghana hosts a side event on Accelerator Actions for SDGs

The Government of Ghana, in collaboration with the Governments of Uganda, Nigeria, and Tonga, the Copenhagen Consensus Centre, the Hilton Foundation, IRC Ghana, and the UN Ghana Country Team, hosted a side event at the 2023 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Summit in New York on the theme "Accelerator Actions and Innovative Financing to Deliver on the SDGs by 2030" on Tuesday, September 19, 2023.

The event addressed catalytic activities and investments that have the potential to greatly accelerate progress towards the SDG targets.

Speaking at the event, the Director-General of the NDPC stressed the importance of efficient resource prioritising and the creation of alternative funding streams to help speed the accomplishment of the SDGs.

The panel discussions, which included the Minister of Finance Mr. ken Ofori-Atta, the Director-General of NDPC Dr. Kodjo Esseim Mensah-Abrampa, the Representative of UN Women Uganda, and the Representative of AU-NEPAD, focused on the activities and creative finance needed to achieve the SDGs.

Members agreed, among other things, that African leaders should: 

• Create platforms for knowledge sharing to improve the development of programmes that can tap into existing global funds, including climate funds; 
• Limit reliance on grants and aid; and explore the alternative of leveraging our available resources for development; 
• Prioritise actions with a better benefit-cost ratio;  
• Enhance women's economic empowerment to ensure a trickle-down effect on the affluent; and
• Enhance African connectivity by re-enforcing the benefits of AfCFTA

The SDG Summit 2023 was held in New York on September 18-19, 2023. It signaled the start of a new phase of accelerated progress towards the SDGs, with high-level political direction on transformative and accelerated activities leading up to 2030.
The Summit, convened by the President of the General Assembly, marked the halfway point towards achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. It was the focal point of the General Assembly's High-level Week. It responded to the impact of the world's various and interconnected problems, and it is meant to rekindle hope, optimism, and excitement for the 2030 Agenda. 
By: Doris Adjetey (NDPC)