By Foday Moriba Conteh
In 2015 the United Nation adopted the Sustainable Development Goal’s which committed themselves to 17 life-changing goals, which include ending extreme poverty, giving people better healthcare and achieving equality for women with the aim for all countries to work together to ensure no one is left behind.
According to the 2018 Sustainable Development Goals Report it is disclosed that in sub-Saharan Africa, the HIV incidence among women of reproductive age is 10 times the global average. Nine out of 10 people living in cities breathe polluted air. And, while some forms of discrimination against women and girls are declining, gender inequality continues to hold women back and deprive them of basic rights and opportunities.
In Sierra Leone many people still lack access to safe water supply and sanitation facilities. Scarcity of water, flooding and lack of proper wastewater management, gender inequality continue to hold women back and deprive them of basic rights and opportunities, accentuate economic hardship and hunger in the country with peace and stability of the country at stake. All the above are all highlighted in the SDGs to be addressed by countries by 2030
During an interview at the Future Sustainability Summit on the margins of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, President Bio reiterated his Government’s commitment to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals where he spoke about Government’s efforts at consolidating peace and increasing access to justice for ordinary people and told the delegates about his Government’s commitment to establishing an infrastructure for peace through a Commission for Peace and National Cohesion.
The big question somebody might want to ask is if sufficient progress have been made by the Bio-led Government to meet the Agenda’s goals by 2030.
During the International day for Peace and Democracy celebration in Freetown Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh reiterated the establishment of the Peace and National Cohesion Commission.
In his address to Parliament, President Julius Maada Bio was very firm on the establishment of a Peace and National Cohesion Commission but up till now little or no effort has been made for its establishment by this Government.
It a nutshell this Government needs to do more if really this country wants to accomplish the 17 pillars in the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
