UN agencies must co-ordinate effectively---Veep

Vice President Amissah-Arthur addressing the UN
agency heads, with Ruby Sandhu-Rojon (left), the UN Resident Coordinator

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

By Edmund Mingle
Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has advocated effective coordination between the various agencies of the United Nations in Ghana and the government so as to achieve the desired results of development projects.

He believed  that improved co-ordination between the government and the 26 UN agencies would help to avoid duplication of efforts and ensure efficiency in the implementation of initiatives.

Addressing the Heads of the UN agencies in Ghana at a meeting at the Flagstaff House in Accra yesterday, the Vice President lauded the partnership and collaboration between the government and the agencies, but noted that there was room for improvement.

The meeting was to discuss challenges affecting the work of the UN agencies in the country and to identify ways of enhancing their collaboration with government for the benefit of Ghanaians.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur thanked the UN agencies for their contribution and support offered within the UN’s Development Framework for Ghana, saying the  various initiatives being pursued by the agencies have been very helpful to Ghana.

He assured them of government’s continued commitment to its partnership with the UN, and expressed optimism that the challenges facing the agencies would be adequately addressed.

Ruby Sandhu-Rojon, the UN Resident Coordinator, who led the UN team, said the agencies provide a collective capacity of expertise to support the government in resolving development challenges.

She noted that the UN agencies have been working with the government to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and was happy that the country was making significant strides in achieving a number of the goals in the areas of poverty reduction, food security, health, maternal mortality, education, nutrition, and sanitation.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur (midle) in a group picture with the UN
agency Heads after their meeting. 

“We are looking at how to work together with government to make a difference,” she said.

The Resident Coordinator also assured the government of continued assistance and cooperation, indicating that the welfare of the citizenry was of paramount interest to the UN agencies.

“You can count on us,” she assured.