Deputy Minister calls for political will to tackle inequality

Ms. Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, on Friday called for political will among countries to tackle the growing technological and economic inequalities for accelerated development.

Ms. Botchway, who made the call at a flag-raising ceremony to mark the 63rd anniversary of the United Nations Day in Accra, said inequality and poverty bred conflict and discontent, a reason for which world leaders must work together to ensure global peace.

She said government recognised that sustaining international peace and security, fighting hunger and poverty, whilst preserving the environment for present and future generations, which was the theme for the occasion, could only be attained through active collaboration and cooperation of all stakeholders.

Ms Botchway said the country fully embraced the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and expertise of the UN in furtherance of its economic and social advancement agenda.

She said with dedication and collaboration of nations, the United Nations could successfully make the world a better place as well as support its developing member states to achieve the (MDGs).

Ms Botchway commended the military and police personnel for their exemplary contributions to international peace saying currently, Ghana was the largest contributor of troops in Africa to the UN.

She pledged the country's continued participation in the promotion of global peace as well as lending support to the UN Charter on Peace.

Mr Daouda Toure, UN Resident Representative, called for disaster preparedness and integration of contingency planning in all economic strategies to ensure that gains made in terms of MDGs could be maintained.

He urged countries to consider climate change not just as an environmental problem but also as a development and security challenge that had the tendency to cause increase in conflict and global stability.

Mr Toure called for more resources to tackle climate change especially in poor countries saying these must be increased to avoid more frequent natural disasters.