As co-chair of SDG Advocates, President Akufo-Addo will work to promote the United Nations’ agenda of global sustainable development.
United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres has announced that the President of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo, will serve as co-chair of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Advocates in the stead of Former President John Dramani Mahama.
The UN Secretary made the announcement on Tuesday, 11th April, 2017. According to the announcement, Nana Addo will be co-chair of the group alongside the Prime Minister of Norway, Erna Solberg till the end of 2018.
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President Akufo-Addo succeeds his predecessor, the immediate past President of Ghana, His Excellency John Mahama, who completed his assignment at the end of December, 2016. Mahama was appointed Co-chair of the UN SDG Advocates in January, 2016, alongside Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg. The Secretary-General expressed his gratitude for Mr. Mahama’s engagement and commitment to promoting the SDGs throughout his co-leadership of the group.
As co-chair of the United Nations’ SDG Advocates, President Akufo-Addo will work with his fellow Advocates to promote the SDGs as part of an ambitious and transformative global development agenda.
Meanwhile, John Mahama has sent across his best wishes to his successor, Nana Akufo-Addo. The Former President did this via his official Facebook page whereon he wrote:
“I wish President Akufo-Addo, my replacement as Co-Chair of the UN SDG Advocates the best of strength, focus and vision as the Advocates work to enhance the gains made towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.”
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), officially known as Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, is a set of 17 “Global Goals” with 169 targets. The goals were adopted by world leaders at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit on 25th September 2015, and launched on 21st January 2016, during the World Economic Forum in Davos. The SDGs were put in the custody of 17 advocates appointed by the UN Secretary General, to build widespread support for the goals towards their achievement by year 2030.
The SDG Advocates are saddled with the particular responsibility of promoting the universal character of the Sustainable Development Goals, with a commitment to leave no one behind. Their duties include promoting the engagement of new stakeholders in the implementation and financing of the SDGs, encouraging partnerships with governments, civil society and the private sector to share knowledge and resources, and raising awareness for the integrated nature of the SDGs.
Below are the 17 SDG Advocates:
Mr. Forest Whitaker, Founder and CEO, Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative, UNESCO Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation
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