UEW Hosts Inaugural SDSN Symposium to Propel Ghana's SDG Agenda
The University of Education, Winneba (UEW), has hosted the first-ever symposium of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) on Wednesday, 19th June, 2024.
The symposium aimed to comprehensively evaluate Ghana’s progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), consolidate achievements, and strategise for accelerated performance and enhanced sustainability.
Held at the School of Creative Arts Theatre on UEW’s Central Campus, Winneba, the event attracted prominent SDG specialists, including Prof. George Yaw Gyan Baffour, Dr. Eugene Owusu, and Dr. Kodjo Esseim Mensah-Abrampa.
Prof. Stephen Jobson Mitchual, Vice-Chancellor of UEW, reaffirmed the university's dedication to fostering a sustainable future. He emphasised UEW’s commitment to embedding sustainability into its curriculum, research initiatives, and campus operations.
"Our mission is to develop the intellectual capital that will guide Ghana towards sustainability," stated Prof. Mitchual. "The SDGs are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all by 2030. Today, we reflect on Ghana's journey, celebrate successes, identify challenges, and plan our path forward with renewed vigour and innovation."
Dr. Eugene Owusu, Chairman of the SDSN-Ghana Governing Council and Special Advisor to the President on SDGs, praised the symposium's organisers, for their initiative. He highlighted the importance of leveraging academia, the private sector, and governmental institutions to bridge the gap between policy, research, and implementation.
"We must scale up smart solutions across all industries and invest in research and development to foster an innovative culture," urged Dr. Owusu. "Guided by urgency and a shared commitment to sustainable development, we can consolidate our gains, accelerate our performance, and ensure the sustainability of our efforts towards 2030 and beyond."
Prof. George Yaw Gyan-Baffour, Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), detailed a policy aimed at elevating Ghana to an upper-middle-income country by 2057, with a projected GDP per capita of $8,500.
He called on political parties to align their future manifestos with this goal, leveraging the expertise of all stakeholders, including the SDSN. "Building a more sustainable and prosperous Ghana requires shared responsibility, collaborative action, and inclusivity. This symposium can serve as a springboard for further collaboration and innovative solutions," he asserted.
Dr. Kodjo Esseim Mensah-Abrampa, Director-General of the NDPC, provided an in-depth evaluation of Ghana’s progress on the SDGs. His keynote address, titled "The State of the Play of SDGs in Ghana: Gains, Challenges, and the Way Forward," assessed the nation’s efforts to meet all 17 SDGs by 2030.
The event featured insightful presentations on climate change and eco-sustainability by Prof. Simon Mariwah from the University of Cape Coast, and on achieving sustainability through innovation, technology, and empowerment by Prof. Benjamin Ghansah of UEW. Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, President of SDSN, addressed participants via Zoom.
A roundtable discussion focused on empowering communities to embrace the SDGs through educational curricula and social campaigns was held. Panelists included Prof. Eric Ananga, Prof. Esther Yeboah Danso-Wiredu, and Dr. Yaw Asamoah of UEW, alongside Prof. (Mrs.) Joyce Larnyoh, Country Director of the International Child Development Programme, Ghana.
The UEW symposium marked a significant step in Ghana’s pursuit of the SDGs, fostering a collaborative environment to reflect on progress and strategise for the future. The event underscored the collective commitment to building a sustainable and prosperous Ghana, setting a precedent for continued dialogue and action towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.
