UN scores Ghana high on MDGs

Ghana has scored high marks in a United Nation assessment of the country’s efforts at meeting the Millennium Development Goals.

A final evaluation report by the UN, co-authored with the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), says Ghana favourably achieved four of the eight goals.

The MDGs will expire this month after 15 years of implementation. It will be replaced by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Ghana significantly met MDGs I and II: Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, and achieving universal primary education.

However, the report raised concerns about high under-employment and rising number of working poor.

Also, Goal IV on reducing child mortality and Goal VIII on developing global partnership were also largely achieved by Ghana.

Although the country failed to meet Goal VI on combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases as well as Goal III on promoting gender equality and women empowerment, it performed favourably at efforts to meet them.

Ghana failed to meet Goal V on reducing maternal health and Goal VII on ensuring environmental sustainability.

UN Resident Coordinator Christine Evans-Klock, however, said Ghana must not be complacent since there was more to be done.

She said although the global picture points to substantial progress at meeting the eight MDGs, more needs to be done.

“I think things have gotten better. That is not to say anybody is satisfied, but we do need to recognise that things have gotten better,” said Ms Evans-Klock.

Technical Advisor at the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) said the Commission’s own assessment shows that Ghana was able to achieve 73% in all thirty-seven indicators under the MDGs.

“Ghana was far ahead in terms of achievement if you compare to other countries,” he said.

Ghana recently joined 192 other countries to adopt the 17 new Sustainable Development Goals aimed at ending poverty by addressing the root causes of the canker; promote prosperity and well-being of Ghanaians and protect the environment.

The new development agenda targets 169 indicators aimed at tackling key systemic barriers to sustainable development such as inequality, unsustainable consumption and production patterns, inadequate infrastructure and lack of decent jobs.