UN congratulates Ghana for submitting to the national voluntary examination

General News on Friday, May 31, 2019

Source: ghananewsagency.org

2019-05-31

The United Nations has welcomed Ghana's decision to engage in the National Voluntary Evaluation (VNR) process, which aims to badess progress in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Ms. Anne Claire Dufay, UNICEF Representative in Ghana, congratulated Thursday the Ministry of Planning, the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and civil society organizations (CSOs) for their efforts in carrying out of the VNR process.

Speaking at a validation workshop of Ghana's VNR report, Ms. Dufay said the VNR was an excellent opportunity to review progress made so far in implementing SDGs. not only by examining the positive aspects, but also the challenges that each country faces in implementing the global agenda.

She noted that in July this year, 51 countries, including Ghana, would submit their VNR report to the United Nations in New York.

The NRV is part of the formal intergovernmental monitoring and review process of the 2030 Agenda and will be presented at the United Nations High Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York in July.

It represents a country's progress report to peers and other global stakeholders on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

Ms. Dufay, who stated that in Ghana, there was a lot of data available to contribute to the NRV review process, also commended the Ghana Statistical Service for having played a vital role in collecting the data. data.

She noted that UNICEF had successfully conducted the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey in Ghana – a household survey aimed at providing statistically rigorous and internationally comparable data on the situation of children and women.

She added that they had also consulted young people. and that the report had enabled UNICEF to now have very interesting information on young people in Ghana.

She added that the UN had also supported consultations organized by the NDPC and the Ministry of Planning across the country; adding that "we are pleased to see that it is a participatory process".

She said young people have a critical role to play in achieving the goals of sustainable development; declaring that this year the UN marked the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Ms. Dufay commended Ghana for being the first country to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

"Thus, in July, when the Minister of Planning will participate in the UN High Level Panel on Sustainable Development Goals Forum, it is hoped that they will discuss the linkages between the Sustainable Development Goals, youth and youth. children because they are essential, "she said.