PAYDP sensitized Journalists on SDGs, Action 2015 Campaign

The African Coordinator for Action 2015 Campaign in Ghana, Mad. Kyerewaa Asamoah-Sekpey has charged Journalists to solidly back the call for action 2015 campaign, the global campaign which seeks to bring an end to poverty, climate change and inequality gaps in the country by helping create awareness on its benefits to the public.

She equally called on the media to join hands with the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) championing the course of action 2015 campaign in Ghana to help mobilize the youth to stand up and accelerate action in demand for accountability from the government to make the right decisions in the world global debates happening this year which could end poverty in all its forms, tackle climate change and discrimination as well as ensure accelerated transition to 100% renewable energy.

Mad. Kyerewaa Asamoah-Sekpey made the call at program dubbed ‘Action 2015 media training’ organized by The Purim African Youth Development Platform (PAYDP) in Accra on Wednesday.

In attendance were over thirty (30) Journalists selected from various media houses including radio, print and online platforms.

They have been vigorously sensitized on the role of the media in the development of the 40 year national development plan and it’s linkages with the sustainable Development Goals as well as Ghana’s processes till date on the Post-2015 agenda.

In his presentation on the above topic, Dr. Felix Addo-Yobo, NDPC’s Deputy Director, of Environmental Policy underscored the need for Ghana’s 40-year Development plan to be incorporated into the Post- 2015 Development Agenda on Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations General Assembly.

He explained the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a successor framework to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which is expected to compliment the aims and objectives of the MDGs which ends up on September 24, 2015.

Dr. Felix Addo-Yobo also highlighted the need for the media to play an effective role in educating the public on the SDGs (Agenda 2030) as well as the 40-year National Development Plan which is currently being formulated by the National Development Planning Commission.

He urges the media to help promote attitudinal change towards the 40-year development plan as wells as the SDGs by creating sustained public awareness and education to the citizenry.

He tasked the Journalists to help disseminate success stories on the plan, promote increased interaction between development actors and the citizenry ,monitor the implementation and progress of the plan at all times and report and also use their medium to promote transparency and accountability by holding government accountable to its task towards a successful plan.

Executive Director of the Purim African Youth Development Platform (PAYDP), Mad. Aku Xornam Kevi in her address explain,“the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provides another opportunity to galvanize global, regional, national and local efforts towards safeguarding our present whiles securing our future for the current and the next generation”.

She disclosed Presidents and Head of States of the United Nations will soon gather on the 25-27^th of this month (September) during the 70^th UN General Assembly to formally adopt the SDGs and commit themselves towards its implementation in at all levels; global, regional and national.

Mad. Xornam Kevi said her outfit chose to organize the media workshop for Journalists to get them understand the concept behind Ghana’s migration into the SDGs as well as create awareness on the action 2015 global campaign and the signing of the SDGs which they equally have a role to play as partners.

Meanwhile, as part of efforts to mobilize the youths in Ghana to share in the “#Light the Way to a better world campaign”; an initiative of Action/2015 campaign which already involved young people across the world calling on the world leaders to keep their promises when they meet in New York on the 24 September to end poverty, inequality and climate change, PAYDP with support from its partners will be staging a ‘light up Campaign on the September 24 at the forecourt of Mantse Agbona near James Town in Accra.

It is a community rally to light up an iconic location, monument or symbol in recognition of the adoption of the Post 2015 Agenda, says the Executive Director of the PAYDP.

It will be followed by a UN simulation exercise on 25^th September 2015 to support young girls and promote campaign on early marriages and the need for the SDGs to address these issues.

In attendance will be Civil Society Organizations, Students, Youth Activist Groups, the media and other stakeholders working to improve the conditions of deprived people in the country including members under the action 2015 banner.

The PAYDP earlier organized a mob flash for head porters popularly known as ‘Kayayies’ to educate them on the SDGs; especially how it will improve their conditions after the successful transition of the MDGs into SDGs on the same day it holds its sensitization workshop for the media.

The PAYDP is a Civil Society Organization spearheading the action 2015 campaign in Ghana with support from the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC), Global Call to Action Against Poverty(GCAP), Alliance for Development(AFD), the Abibiman Foundation,the Community and Family Aid Foundation (CAFAF) , the 350 Ghana Reducing Our Carbon(350 G-ROC) amongst others.

Action 2015 is one of the world’s largest civil society campaigns made up of over 2000 organizations, networks and coalitions from 150 countries calling on leaders to commit to implementing the SDGs goals. It is with belief that 2015 is a critical year for progress in the fight against climate change, poverty and equality hence the need for action on part of youths to effect a radical change.

Joseph Kobla Wemakor| [email protected]