By Samuel Zan Akologo – Executive Secretary, Caritas Ghana
It is already five years now since the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 by 193 States, as the major international consensus on integral human development. Pope Francis made a major contribution to the fundamental principles underpinning the SDGs through his Encyclical Laudato Si which was published a few months to the conclusion and adoption of the 2030 Agenda Declaration and the 17 Goals which constitute the SDGs. It should also be recalled that Pope Francis addressed the United Nations General Assembly before the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was tabled for adoption. Catholic Development Agencies led by Caritas Internationalis and the Holy See Mission in New York also actively engaged in the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) processes that championed the drafting and negotiating the Declaration and the 17 Goals of the 2030 Agenda.
The international community is currently working towards the first four-yearly review of all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in September, 2019 at the General Assembly. Recent reports from international organizations raise a serious alarm of concern regarding present course of implementation of the SDGs. This is the context within which the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, together with the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue at the Vatican, convened an International Conference on “Religions and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” at the New Synod Hall, Vatican City from 7 – 9 March, 2019. The Conference adopted the pedagogy of SEE, JUDGE, ACT to assess status of global implementation, gain deeper understanding of the SDGs in the light of faith and agreed on the unique contributions that Religions can make to promote and to implement the SDGs.
The Conference was attended by experts from the World’s Major Religions from the global East and West, North and South, International Institutions and representatives of some Governments. Caritas Internationalis led a delegation of Catholic Charity and Development Agencies to participate in the Conference. The Conference emphasized the interconnections among all 17 distinct goals and 169 associated targets of the 2030 Agenda by what is known as the five “Ps”: PEOPLE, PLANET, PROSPERITY, PEACE and PARTNERSHIP. Pope Francis granted audience to the participants of the conference and spoke passionately about the importance of the SDGs. The Supreme Pontiff re-echoed the need for inclusive approaches that ensures that the poor are not left behind, development that ensures the integrity of creation, recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples and the important role of Faith Groups and International cooperation.
We commend the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development for this initiative, Pope Francis for his commitment to the SDGs and the leadership of the Major Faith Groups for standing up and acting together on the common cause of humanity through engaging with the SDGs. As Ghana prepares to submit for the Voluntary National Review (VNR) at the United Nations in July this year (2019), we urge the Government and the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) to learn from the partnership approach emphasized by the Vatican Conference on the SDGs. We note the active role of the Catholic Church in Ghana, through Caritas Ghana, in promoting the SDGs; especially the principle of ENSURE NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND. Caritas Ghana’s partnership and networking approaches, public policy advocacy and innovative programming in Social Impact Investment initiatives, Decent Work for unemployed youth, electric- and electronic-waste (e-waste) management, Information Technology for Development etc are concrete measures of enhancing the Church’s contribution for the realization of the SDGs in Ghana. The Interfaith Alliance – Forum for Actions on Inclusion, Transparency and Harmony (FAITH) in Ghana which is facilitated by Caritas Ghana and brings together Muslim, Ahmadiyya, Catholic and Pentecostal Faith Groups, also provides a broad platform for engagement to promote the SDGs in Ghana. The Civil Society Platform on the SDGs in Ghana is also available for consultation. It is our expectation that Ghana’s report for the Voluntary National Review (VNR) at the United Nations in July, will be inclusive of opinions of citizens’ groups to demonstrate ownership. The media should maintain focus and vigilance on all the national processes leading to Ghana’s VNR in July, 2019 at the United Nations. The Church in Ghana and especially its Lay Societies can do more to promote the implementation of the SDGs from the lens of Laudato Si which provides both a moral compass and clarion call for dialogue.
