‘Involve private sector to achieve SDGs’

Nana Osei-Bonso, Chief Executive of the Private Enterprise Federation, has advised government to partner the private sector in order to successfully achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

According to him, government can tap into the resources of the private sector to achieve the SDGs.

SDGs are successor frameworks to Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

They are expected to complement the aims and objectives of the MDGs to address development challenges of the world.

The SDGs are expected to be rolled out fully on January 1, 2016.

Nana Osei-Bonso, who was speaking at the Social Good Summit 2015 in Accra, said the private sector would invest bountiful if government brings the SDGs to the policy level.

“We have the tools and all we have to do is to bring the SDGs to the level where investment can take place. The private sector would invest to help achieve these policies,” he said.

Nana Osei-Bonso said the partnership between government and the private sector is what is going to move the SDGs to the level where we can influence livelihood.”

He stressed the need for government and civil society to start a campaign on the SDGs in order to educate individuals on the roles they have to play in achieving them.

He urged government to create conducive environment, which would attract private investors into the economy to partner government in achieving the SDGs.

“The private sector is willing and ready but if the economic conditions and investment climate are not conducive, the private sector would not invest,” he said.

Mulugeta Abebe, Deputy Country Director for UNDP, disclosed that SDGs, which comprises 17 goals and 169 targets, had been adopted by all 193 UN member states to end poverty, fight inequality and injustice and tackle climate change for everyone by 2030.

“The new goals matter to all of us as we have a shared responsibility for our future. We call on all meaning Ghanaian citizens, private sector, the media and civil society to support government in the implementation of the SDGs and join forces with the UN System to promote SDGs,” he said.