Political Leaders Urged To Fight Poverty

Political leaders have been urged to redouble their efforts at overcoming poverty and social injustice as it continues to afflict the society. The Most Reverend Gabriel Justice Yaw Anokye, Catholic Metropolitan Archbishop of Kumasi, urged them to focus on skills development, expansion and provision of capital to aid job creation. He said this in an address delivered at a United Nation�s (UN) stakeholders� post-2015 development agenda discussions held in New York. A copy of the address was mailed to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Kumasi. The Archbishop, who is also the 2nd Vice President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conference of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), had led a three-member delegation of the continental body to the meeting. The meeting was to discuss the remaining unachieved millennium development goals (MDGs) and formulate them into sustainable development goals (SDGs) for 2015-2030. The conference, which brought together leaders from 193 countries, was organized by the UN�s Non-Governmental Liaison Service (UNIGLS), and also sought inputs from over 3,000 civil society groups. Most Rev Anokye made a strong case for those in �greatest need� to have a powerful voice and become the real owners of global initiatives meant to transform their situation. Their views, knowledge and experiences must be included in the planning to help achieve some sustainability, he said. He underlined the need to incorporate spiritual and moral values into every development strategy and called for involvement of faith-based organizations in policy planning and implementation because of their large constituencies.