UN@79: Working together towards peace and sustainable development in Ghana
At the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York, flags of member states wave gently in the breeze, creating a vivid display of global unity. Among them, Ghana’s red, gold, and green stands proudly alongside its international counterparts and the UN’s azure field and white olive branches – a perfect picture of nations coming together.
This colourful gathering of flags, embodies the UN’s core values: strength through diversity, shared aspirations born from a collection of cultures and histories.
Thousands of miles away from this inspiring sight, on the shores of West Africa, the spirit of international unity finds a home in Ghana. Here, the ideals represented by those distant flags come to life in local initiatives and celebrations of global significance.
Celebrating UN Day
On October 24, 2024, the Ghana flag and that of the UN will take centre stage at a flag-raising ceremony at the forecourt of the State House in Accra. This ceremony marks Ghana’s participation in the global celebration of the 79th anniversary of the UN Charter’s entry into force in 1945 and showcases the ongoing collaboration between Ghana and the UN in promoting peace and sustainable development.
While the global theme for this year is “The World Needs the UN; the UN Needs Us,” Ghana has adopted a local theme that resonates deeply with its national priorities: “Working together towards Peace and Sustainable Development in Ghana for present and future generations.”
This local theme aligns seamlessly with the 79th United Nations General Assembly’s focus on “Unity and diversity for advancing peace, sustainable development and human dignity, everywhere and for all.”
It reflects the pressing need for collective action in the face of global challenges, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between nations, organisations, and individuals to achieve lasting peace and sustainable development.
Working Together for Ghana’s Future
The collaborative effort towards peace and sustainable development in Ghana isn’t just a theme—it’s a crucial necessity. Ghana currently faces several significant challenges that demand unified action and forward-thinking solutions. The battle against galamsey (illegal mining) represents one of the most urgent issues, causing environmental devastation through landscape destruction and water pollution, thereby threatening both environmental sustainability and public health.
This challenge requires coordinated efforts between government bodies, local communities, and international partners to develop viable, sustainable solutions.
Ghana’s democratic foundation must also be protected, particularly as the nation approaches future elections. This requires the active involvement of electoral bodies, citizens, civil society organisations, and international observers to maintain peaceful, free, and fair electoral processes. This democratic strength is closely tied to upholding the rule of law, necessitating collaboration across all societal sectors to ensure justice accessibility and effective legal system operation, including efforts to modernise the judiciary, fight corruption, and enhance legal literacy among citizens.
Central to achieving these goals is the need to prioritise national interests over partisan ones. This calls for unified effort from political leaders, civil society organisations, traditional authorities, and citizens to foster national unity and shared purpose.
UN’s Evolving Mission
Established in 1945 after the Second World War, the UN has as its primary goal to bring peace, prevent another war, and ensure development for the people of the world.
Nearly 80 years later, the UN continues its work to maintain international peace and security, provide humanitarian assistance, protect human rights, and uphold international law.
The organisation has also taken on new challenges. The UN has set Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030, aiming to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. UN Member States have also agreed to climate action to limit global warming, adapting to climate change, and addressing loss and damage.
Additionally, the UN is at the forefront of addressing pressing global issues. These include tackling health crises, combating climate change and biodiversity loss, mediating conflicts and advocating for peace, responding to economic crises and fostering global solidarity, peacekeeping and pushing for Security Council reform, and preparing for the future through initiatives like the Summit of the Future.
UN’s impact in Ghana
The UN has firmly established its presence in Ghana since the early 1960s, fostering dynamic collaborations with a spectrum of stakeholders, including the Government of Ghana, civil society, development partners, and the private sector. Key achievements include supporting Ghana’s ambitious development plan to stay on track with the SDG commitments despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and committing at least $500 million to support Ghana’s development priorities between 2023 and 2025 through a new Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework signed in April 2023.
The UN has also implemented the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2023-2025), built upon three foundational pillars: inclusive economic transformation, equitable access to social services, and sustainable peace and security. The organisation serves as a catalyst in the process of development, providing policy support and strategic interventions to achieve Ghana’s vision, while ensuring inclusiveness by reaching everyone, including women, children, people with disabilities, the aged, and the marginalised.
Ghana’s UN contributions
Ghana was admitted to the UN on March 8, 1957, just two days after attaining independence from Great Britain. Since then, Ghana has played an active and important role in the organisation. In June 2021, Ghana was elected to the United Nations Security Council for the 2022-2023 term. Ghana’s agenda focused on enhancing global peace and security for sustainable and inclusive development, particularly on the continent of Africa.
Ghana’s contribution to the global search for sustainable peace and security is remarkable. The country ranks among the top 10 contributors of troops for UN peacekeeping operations in trouble spots across the globe. Several Ghanaians have taken on leadership positions within the UN system, making meaningful impacts.
The highpoint of Ghana’s contribution to global affairs was the stewardship of Kofi Annan as the UN Secretary-General from January 1997 to December 2006. Annan initiated the Millennium Development Goals, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2000 as a global development agenda. Other notable Ghanaian contributions include former President John Agyekum Kufuor’s service as Global Ambassador against Hunger for the UN World Food Programme and in various other UN roles, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s appointment as co-Chair of the SDG Advocates from 2017-2020, and former President John Dramani Mahama’s service as co-Chair of the SDG Advocates.
Looking into the future
The story of Ghana’s partnership with the UN is not just one of diplomatic ties and international cooperation. It is a narrative of shared dreams, collective efforts, and unwavering hope.
As we look to the future, we see challenges that may seem daunting – climate change, inequality, conflicts – but we also see opportunities. Opportunities to innovate, to collaborate, and to create a world that is fairer, more sustainable, and more peaceful. The UN and Ghana, hand in hand, are at the forefront of this endeavour, proving that when we work together, no challenge is insurmountable.
As the flags continue their gentle dance in the breeze at the UN Headquarters, they whisper a promise of a brighter tomorrow. A tomorrow where every child has the opportunity to thrive, where our planet is protected, and where peace is not just an ideal, but a reality. This is the promise of the United Nations, and it is a promise that Ghana, along with the global community, is committed to fulfilling.
In the words of Kofi Annan, Ghana’s gift to the world and the UN’s cherished leader: “In the 21st century, I believe the mission of the United Nations will be defined by a new, more profound awareness of the sanctity and dignity of every human life, regardless of race or religion.”
“The world is not ours to keep. We hold it in trust for future generations.”
BY JONATHAN DONKOR
