Use SDGs to invest in citizens — Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged African leaders to see the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as an opportunity to invest in their people.

He said the implementation of the SDGs would ensure that Africans built a better life, stressing that “no group of persons has more to gain from the successful implementation of the SDGs than African people”.

Addressing the Africa Roundtable on the United Nations SDGs in Accra on Monday, President Akufo-Addo said despite the expected gains, there were justifiably pressing demands to address issues of widespread unemployment and the sense of hopelessness in the future that “compels large numbers of Africa‘s youth to travel across the Sahara Desert and traverse perilous oceans in search of a better life in the developed world. 

“As we endeavour to address these challenges and the huge expectations that citizens have, we have great prospects in using the SDGs to open up opportunities for all citizens, and do so in ways that leave no one behind,” he said.

In attendance were the President of Rwanda, Mr Paul Kagame, and the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Mr Moussa Faki Mahamat.

As co-Chair of the UN Secretary General’s Eminent Group of Advocates, President Akufo-Addo said “we have an exceptional opportunity, going forward, in translating the extraordinary goals enshrined in the SDGs to end poverty, protect the planet and secure prosperity for all”.

He said he had taken a strategic decision to prioritise the championing of the accelerated implementation of the goals in Africa because the deficit in human development was highest in Africa.

“If we are to succeed in our noble ambition to transform our continent and pull masses of our people out of poverty and deprivation, Africa must pursue the implementation of the SDGs with a strong sense of urgency and an unparalleled commitment to act now. We do not have the luxury of time when it comes to the pressing challenges of poverty, climate change, youth unemployment and the myriad of issues that confront the continent,” he said. 

Steps to achieving SDGs

Achieving the SDGs, President Akufo-Addo said, would take bold ambition in thought and actions, creativity, innovation, hard work and, most critically, connecting to the positive and abundant energies of the youth

The story of Africa’s hitherto inability to develop, according to him, was primarily the story of bad governance and the damaging colonial heritage.

“We must make governance and our governance systems work for the eradication of poverty and the creation of prosperity and wealth. And, as we embark on this path, we must commit to building accountable and transparent institutions.

“We cannot grow out of poverty and achieve the SDGs through charity and the benevolence of others. If we are going to succeed to move Africa Beyond Aid, this cannot be a mere slogan. It will take doing business differently and making the tough choices necessary to accelerate inclusive growth in the economy,” he said. 

With the private sector being a key accelerator to achieving the goals, President Akufo-Addo urged African leaders to do everything within their power to dismantle the labyrinth of constraints that impeded the private sector and regional trade and integration. 

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AU Chairperson

For his part, Mr Mahamat said Africa had two major assets of which it could take advantage to better the lives of its people.

“We have a human resource of 1.2 billion, of which 60 per cent are youth, and 60 per cent of the arable land in the world, with sufficient water, natural and ocean resources,” he said.

While expressing worry about political conflicts, civil strife and terrorism on the continent, he also lamented over prevailing social challenges, such as increasing unemployment, diseases and other scourges affecting the people, particularly women and children.

The AU Chairperson further raised concern over the migration of Africans from the continent and called for the root causes of that menace to be dealt with.

Explaining the creative role the private sector could play as the engine of growth and job creation, he said the AU had intensified its action to fight corruption in order to boost the rapid socio-economic progress of the continent.

He added that the AU, in conformity with its Agenda 2063, had embarked on transformation processes, with focus on various regional blocs as pillars of integration to foster financial and economic transformation.

Rwandan President

Mr Kigame underscored the need for Africa to take advantage of the SDGs to transform the lives of the people.

He also called on African nations to place stronger emphasis on the private sector as an engine for growth and wealth creation and the elimination of poverty.

According to him, the SDGs could not be achieved by the government alone, hence the need for a partnership between the public and the private sectors to raise critical investments for the attainment of the 17 SDGs.

Norwegian Prime Minister

In a video message, the Prime Minister of Norway, Ms Erna Solberg, commended President Nana Akufo-Addo for initiating the Africa roundtable on mobilising support and accelerating the implementation of the SDGs, describing it as “by far the most ambitious”.