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News › General News       10.05.2019

Akufo-Addo, 16 Others Appointed Advocates For SDGs

By Emmanuel Yeboah Britwum
President Akufo-Addo and UN Secretary

President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo together with 16 other influential leaders across the globe have been appointed as advocates for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Appointed as Co-chairs, President Akufo-Addo and the President of Norway, Her Excellency, Erna Solberg, together with the other advocates are to use their unique platforms and leadership to inspire cross-cutting mobilization of the global community, in order to accomplish the SDGs by 2030.

The appointment was made by the United Nations Secretary-General (UN), Antonio Guterres.

In his acceptance speech as the Co-Chair of the SDG Advocates and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said “This is a time of great hope for the world. If we work smartly together and stay on course, we can raise millions out of poverty and significantly expand basic social services for many more by the 2030 end date of the SDGs.”

These 17 influential public figures are committed to raising awareness, inspiring greater ambition, and pushing for faster action on the SDGs, which were adopted by world leaders on 25 September 2015.

Other members include Alibaba Group (People’s Republic of China), Forest Whitaker, Founder, and Chief Executive Officer, Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative, UNESCO Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation (United States of America), ack Ma, Founder, and Executive Chairman among others.

Below is the full statement:

Secretary-General Appoints New Sustainable Development Goals Advocates

The principles at the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are also what drive the new class of SDG Advocates, appointed today by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. These 17 influential public figures are committed to raising awareness, inspiring greater ambition, and pushing for faster action on the SDGs, which were adopted by world leaders on 25 September 2015.

United Nations Member States agreed to accomplish the SDGs by 2030. To build the momentum for transformative, inclusive development by 2030, the Secretary-General’s SDG Advocates will use their unique platforms and leadership to inspire cross-cutting mobilization of the global community.

“We have the tools to answer the questions posed by climate change, environmental pressure, poverty and inequality. They lie in the great agreements of 2015 – the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change.

But tools are no use if you don’t use them. So, today, and every day, my appeal is clear and simple. We need action, ambition and political will. More action, more ambition and more political will,” said the Secretary-General.

The Secretary-General has tasked the Advocates with driving that action, building that ambition, and solidifying global political will.

The Advocates represent the universal character of the SDGs, hailing from Governments, entertainment, academia, sport, business and activist organizations around the world. The Advocates will leverage and build bridges between their unique audiences, and work together to drive progress.

“By joining forces to achieve our goals, we can turn hope into reality – leaving no one behind,” said Co-Chair of the SDG Advocates group Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway.

Said Co-Chair of the SDG Advocates and President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, “This is a time of great hope for the world. If we work smartly together and stay on course, we can raise millions out of poverty and significantly expand basic social services for many more by the 2030 end date of the SDGs.”

The Secretary-General has appointed some members of the previous class of SDG Advocates as SDG Advocate Alumni and looks forward to their ongoing support and engagement.

For more information, please visit www.unsdgadvocates.org .

The Secretary-General’s SDG Advocates are:

Co-Chairs

Members

The Secretary-General’s SDG Advocate Alumni are:

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