The UN Deputy Secretary General (second right) in a meeting with the EC
The United Nations has said that Ghana’s stability will lead to its quick economic recovery post the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Monday, the UN Deputy Secretary-General (DSG), Ms Amina J. Mohammed, acknowledged that the stability in Ghana provides hope to build a more ambitious development programme and attract the finances necessary to recover from the socio-economic impacts of COVID 19 and build back better.
Ms Mohammed urged African countries and, for that matter, Ghana not to be afraid of the challenges the Covid-19 presents, but rather tackle them head-on. She noted that the pandemic is not going to be over until a vaccine is found, and urged African countries not to allow themselves to be defeated by the pandemic.
According to her, even when a vaccine is found, it will take sometime before it becomes available for all countries.
Free, fair election
The United Nations has also underscored the importance of free and fair elections that are peaceful, transparent, inclusive and credible, and administered by strong, confident and reliable electoral institutions.
The UN DGS made this observation during her recent visit to Ghana when she met with the Electoral Commission and the National Peace Council.
The Chairperson of the EC, Mrs Jean Mensa, highlighted a number of significant achievements and challenges encountered, and how the EC had responded and addressed those challenges. She cited transparency, regular updates on the Commission’s preparations towards the elections, and immediate response to complaints as the hallmark to ease tensions around the elections.
She informed the DSG that, with three weeks to go for the December 7 elections, the EC is 97 per cent ready and does not foresee any setback.
The UN DSG, in commending the EC on its preparedness, called on the Commission to continue dialoguing with key stakeholders with the view to creating an inclusive and conduce environment for holding elections.
She also shared the idea of creating a “Youth Situation Room” in order to involve the youth in disseminating accurate and reliable information on the electoral process via social media.
Peace
At a meeting with a delegation from the National Peace Council, led by its newly appointed Chairperson, Rev Dr Ernest Adu-Gyamfi, the UN DSG said, “the enthusiasm and expectations of stakeholders and the people of Ghana are very high and [their] voice in keeping the peace is critical to ensuring peaceful elections”.
In a sub-region with increasing conflict, this is crucial, the DSG stated, for the sustenance of peace in the country and by extension in West Africa and on the continent.
The Council presented a report on Eradicating Political Vigilantism in Ghana to the DSG and shared its ongoing efforts to promote peaceful elections and assist in defusing tensions at different levels such as creating awareness on the Vigilantism and Related Offenses Act, 2019 (Act 999).
In commending the Peace Council, the DSG encouraged tapping into Ghana’s strong network of Queen mothers to enhance the participation of women and youth in promoting peaceful elections.
Covid recovery plan
In a related development, the UN in Ghana, in collaboration with key stakeholders, has developed its country-specific COVID-19 Socio-Economic Response and Recovery Plan (SERRP) that will assist Ghana to recover and build back better from the COVID-19 pandemic in a more sustainable and inclusive way.
The plan builds on its immediate COVID 19 response, which is the COVID-19 Country Preparedness and Response Plan and is aligned to Government priorities.
The UN Ghana Plan is in line with the United Nations framework which calls for strong multilateral cooperation to help countries to address the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, protect people, and build back better.
During her visit to Ghana, the UN DSG presented the plan to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, signalling the official launch of the document. The presentation also presents a commitment of the UN in the country to stand with the Government and relevant partners to work to support Ghana recover from the multiple impacts of the pandemic and stay on track towards the attainment of the SDG.
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