The first SDGs report for Ghana, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Indicator Baseline report has been launched. The report, launched by the Government of Ghana in collaboration with the United Nations in Ghana, with technical and financial support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), provides baseline status for a set of SDGs indicators and serves as a reference point for tracking progress on the achievement of the SDGs and the corresponding Africa Union’s Agenda 2063.

In a speech read on her behalf at the launch, the UN Resident Coordinator, Ms. Christine Evans-Klock, highlighted the significance of administrative data to drive results.

“Data can tell us whether economic growth is inclusive growth, whether it is making a difference for persons with disabilities, for minority groups, for persons in distant rural communities and in urban centers…”, stated Ms. Evans-Klock.

Similarly, in a media interview at the event, Mr. Louis Kuukpen, the Assistant Country Director of UNDP eulogized Ghana’s effort in producing the baseline report. He indicated that, the SDGs indicator baseline report gives all stakeholders a start of where we are as a country and will help in measuring change and results. Mr. Kuukpen underscored the importance of resource mobilization and partnerships to accelerate the achievements of the goals. He said, “the implementation of the SDGs requires attitudinal and mind change, and while we fight very hard to eradicate poverty, we have to look at how best to mobilize collective resources and partnerships to achieve the goals”.

Presenting the key findings of the report, Mr. Felix Addo Yobo, the Deputy Director of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) highlighted the poverty gap existing between the southern and northern zones of the country. He added that climate change is still an issue, coupled with natural disasters like floods.  

Touching on peace and justice, Mr. Addo Yobo indicated that Ghana has recorded 80 per cent of the population feeling safe walking alone around their neighborhood, but the issue of corruption has seen massive increase between 2012 and 2016.

According to the report, the baseline values for the indicators show that Ghana has a long way to go in achieving many of the SDGs targets. It highlights significant disparities in access to, and quality of basic services based on sex, age categories, location and income, and portrays a real risk of leaving some people behind.

The findings of the report call for innovative and efficient strategies to tackle the SDGs and emphasize the need for development interventions and investments at cross-sectoral levels, involving multi-stakeholder partnerships with a long-term perspective.

The Ghana SDGs Indicator Baseline report was launched by Prof. George Gyan-Baffour, the Minister for Planning, who encouraged all stakeholders to study the report and be actively involved in the conversations that will support the implementation of the SDGs in Ghana.