Foreign Minister on socio-economic development

Accra, Oct. 24, GNA - Alhaji Muhamad Mumuni, Foreign Affairs Minister, has called on the UN, to translate its commitments on socio-economic development issues into specific actions to facilitate the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Alhaji Mumuni made the call at a flag raising ceremony in Accra on Saturday, to mark the 64th UN Day, on the theme: "Ghana and the United Nations: Addressing Challenges of MDGs, Climate Change and Global Financial Crisis."

He observed that though Africa has contributed the least to the accumulation of the Green House gasses, which has resulted to climate change, the continent bore a disproportionately larger brunt of the effects, adding that the sad trend needed to be reversed.

"Climate change can and should provide a real opportunity for international co-operation to achieve a balance between the requirement of the development and environmental protection," he said. Alhaji Mumuni said the goal of achieving a sustainable framework on Climate Change, could only be attained through the establishment of clear commitments by developed countries to reduce emissions. He added that there was the need for the developed countries to build the capacity of developing countries, by providing the necessary international funding and technology transfer.

"This would meet the interest of all parties. It can also contribute to redirecting the global economy towards sustainable growth through the use of sustainable patterns and modes of development that are in line with environmental preservation."

Alhaji Mumuni called on the UN to exert pressure on developed countries to offer more assistance to the developing countries stressing: "In times of crisis, it is the poor who suffer the most, because they have no alternative opportunities or safety measures to fall back upon."

He called on the world body to play its fundamental role of promoting international co-operation for development and to strengthen co-ordination within the UN system in close collaboration with other multilateral, financial, trade and development institutions.

Mr Daouda Toure, UN Resident Co-ordinator, said the UN was proud to be associated with Ghana's progress in mainstreaming the MDGs in order to accelerate the country's development.

"Ghana has made progress on six out of the eight goals but challenges remain in the areas of Child Mortality and Maternal Health," he said. Mr Toure expressed confidence in the assurance given by President John Evans Atta Mills of government's commitment in addressing the issue, at the 64th UN General Assembly.

He said the UN system was currently helping Ghana to develop a national strategy, mobilise resources and to facilitate regional exchanges to strengthen the regional position on a new global agreement on climate change and successful conclusion of the agreement at the Summit, which would be held in December in Copenhagen. 24 Oct. 09