Charles Abani, the UN Resident Coordinator for Ghana warns that the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are in jeopardy, with less than 20 percent of their targets expected to be achieved by 2030.
Mr. Abani expressed deep concern over the progress of the SDGs, revealing that almost half of the targets are significantly behind schedule despite some progress being made.
He said around 30 percent of the targets have either stagnated or moved backward since the baseline set in 2015.
“If present trends persist, by 2030, a staggering 575 million people will remain trapped in extreme poverty and 84 million children will be out of school.”
Charles Abani
During the inaugural UN Global Compact Ghana Business Sustainability Dinner in Accra, the UN Resident Coordinator highlighted a sobering reality.
He stated that it could take nearly 300 years to fully address gender disparities in legal protection, eradicate discriminatory laws, and put an end to child marriage.
“These are dire statistics on our humanity. And there are still yet other challenges. Our 21st-century ambitions to make the world a better place and our 20th-century legacy structures and processes that defined the direction we need to go are disconnected.”
Charles Abani
He said, “We can achieve better results if we change our approach.”
Given this context, he emphasized the importance of adopting an integrated policy approach that carefully considers the synergies and trade-offs involved in deviating from the usual way of doing things.
Mr. Abani promoted solutions that address all aspects of the challenge. He underscored the critical role of the private sector in shaping the future of humanity as a whole.
“The private sector is not merely a stakeholder in the pursuit of sustainable development; you are a strategic partner,” he said.
He further emphasized the pivotal role of the private sector in driving transformative change, fostering innovation, and mobilizing resources on a large scale.
The period following the pandemic has showcased the profitability of integrating sustainability into business operations.
Consequently, the private sector’s ability to innovate, invest, and facilitate transformative change at a significant level is a valuable asset in collectively pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
By highlighting the SDGs as a strategic opportunity for businesses, he stressed their role in promoting innovation and societal impact. By aligning with the SDGs, businesses can enhance their appeal to investors, access new markets, and secure capital.
Furthermore, embracing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives enables businesses to manage risks, enhance resilience, and contribute to the overall strength of the global economy.
Mr. Abani encouraged businesses to integrate the SDGs into their strategies to contribute to these global goals and position themselves for long-term success.
Acknowledging the private sector’s increasing involvement in sustainable development, he observed that businesses worldwide are stepping up to the challenge.
Private Sector’s Key Role in SDGs
The inaugural UN Global Compact Ghana Business Sustainability Dinner, themed ‘Achieving Business Outcomes through the Integration of the UN Sustainable Development Goals’, convened businesses and stakeholders dedicated to advancing the UN’s sustainability objectives.
Mr. Sulemanu Koney, Chairman of the UN Global Compact Network Ghana, also spoke at the event, highlighting the private sector’s role in advancing SDG progress in Ghana.
“The private sector has contributed over 70 percent of GDP, according to the Ghana Statistical Service & the World Bank. In particular, through investment, innovation, and job creation, businesses have played a pivotal role in contributing to SDG 8 – Decent Growth.”
Sulemanu Koney
Furthermore, Mr. Koney disclosed that in 2021, the UN Global Compact collaborated with the Country Network in Ghana to introduce the Africa Strategy.
He elaborated that this strategy is designed to tailor the support of the UN Global Compact, leveraging its programs, platforms, and resources to accelerate impact across the continent and enhance companies’ sustainability efforts.
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