The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) has collaborated with the Atebubu-Amantin municipal assembly and other stakeholders to enhance the localization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the municipality.
During the event, Mr. Joseph Tang, the municipal coordinating director, welcomed the participants and expressed his gratitude to the NDPC and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for selecting Atebubu-Amantin as one of five districts nationwide to participate in a Voluntary Local Review (VLR) exercise on the SDGs. He emphasized that this engagement would resonate with ordinary citizens at the local level.
Mr. Philip Acheampong from the NDPC, who spoke on behalf of the Director General of the Commission, defined localization as the process of considering local contexts and situations when implementing the SDGs. This includes setting goals, establishing targets, determining means of implementation, and developing indicators to monitor and assess progress.
He underscored the critical role of local authorities in ensuring that no one and no place is left behind in the implementation of the SDGs, highlighting that all 17 goals relate to the responsibilities of local authorities.
Madam Rebecca Kumi, a Child Rights Monitoring Specialist with UNICEF, noted that the VLR process provides a strategic platform for the municipality to evaluate its progress on the SDGs, reflecting local realities and priorities. She stated, “The success of the 2030 agenda depends not only on national commitments but also, and even more critically, on how we translate those commitments into tangible actions in people’s lives at the local level.”
Ms. Vera Baffoe from the NDPC informed the attendees that the VLR, established in 2019, aims to accelerate the attainment of the SDGs by 2030. She explained that the SDGs focus on people, the planet, prosperity, peace, and partnerships, noting that six of the goals pertain to prosperity while four relate to the economy and environment.
Mr. Emmanuel Bukari, a member of the district VLR team, presented on the VLR processes and the data collected thus far to assess the municipality’s progress in achieving the various indicators.
Participants from government departments, political parties, assembly members, trade groups, the clergy, traditional authorities, the disabled community, and media outlets shared ideas on how to meet the SDGs by the established deadline.
