Mamburay Njie, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs has revealed that the government of The Gambia is ever committed to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, adding that the National Development Plan (NDP) strongly speaks to the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its overarching goals that recognizes the principle of ‘leaving no one behind’.
He made these remarks among others at a joint press briefing organized by the United Nations and The Gambian government on the need to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals with the theme ‘Decade of Action’ that calls on all to accelerate their efforts to meeting the targets of the SDGs as it faces out in 2030.
“The strategies and interventions of The Gambia government are aimed at reducing the gaps that exist between the urban and rural areas. In this regard these investment in roads will help improve access to markets and socio-economic facilities for some of the vulnerable population in our country. These interventions among others initiatives shows government commitment to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals,” said Mamburay Njie, Minister of Finance.
Minister Njie revealed that government is assiduously working towards accelerating the phase of rural electrification as well as embarking on an ambitious project that is geared towards providing electricity to schools and health centers in rural part of The Gambia, adding that these identified schools and health centers are in regions that has limited access to electricity.
He added that this environmentally friendly source of electricity will improve the quality of health and education in the rural areas of the country.
Speaking at the event, United Nations Resident Coordinator, Seraphine Wakana commended Gambian government for its strong commitment to accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals through the National Development Plan (NDP) and other sectorial strategies, adding that the Decade of Action is necessitated by the fact that the SDGs are to phase out in 2030 and the need for all to put hands on the deck becomes important.
UN Country Representative disclosed that through the implementations of various programs of the SDGs significant drops has been registered in reducing extreme poverty and child mortality as access to energy, education and decent work is also on the rise, disclosing that hunger and greenhouse gas emissions continues to rise.
“While we have seen a mega bold progress, extreme poverty and child mortality rates are falling and access to energy, education and to decent work is rising but hunger is rising, greenhouse gas emission continue to climb and most vulnerable continues to be affected by conflict, inequality, injustice and climate change.” UN Resident Coordinator revealed.
Madam Wakana hinted that the aimed of the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by all countries of the United Nations is to end poverty, rescue the planet and build a peaceful world, adding that more efforts are needed to be done to accelerate the implementation of SDGs and their targets.
“The decade of action calls on governments, businesses, civil society and individuals everywhere to create an unstoppable force to reach the goals by 2030 by mobilizing everyone, everywhere to take action individually and collectively, locally and globally demanding urgency and ambitions by holding leaders to account, sabotage ideas to solutions by signing a light of a success story and driving sustainable innovation, investment and opportunities,” UN Resident Coordinator calls for action to making the SDGs a success.
She added: “We have ten years to transform our world, together we can end extreme poverty, win the race against climate change and conquer injustice and gender inequality. The spirit of human endeavor has demonstrated our shared abilities to deliver the extra-ordinary, it’s time to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals for people and for the planet.”
