Many citizens across the world are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the slow progress being made towards achieving the MDGs and are taking action by petitioning and talking to their elected representatives. In 2009 more than 173 million people gathered at "Stand Up, Take Action, End Poverty Now!" events, setting a new world record for the largest mobilisation of this kind. Visit http://standagainstpoverty.org.
This year, the United Nations held the Millennium Development Goal Review Summit from 20th to 22nd September.
YPWC's Programme's Director involved in radio phone-in in Kumasi
Meanwhile, YPWC held its own Stand Up events in the days leading up to the UN Summit. This is how it went:
DAY 1: SUTA @ SEA SCHOOL, 17TH SEPTEMBER, 2010
The first day of SUTA activity took place at Sea School at Kwadaso Community in Kumasi.
One student said,
‘We want our government to be committed in ensuring that the MDGs are well-achieved for a better life for all Ghanaians’.
The Proprietor of the School, Mr. Atta Badu, read the STAND UP PLEDGE to the hearing of
the student populace and the entire staff at the assembly ground. Both students and
teachers stooped down and STOOD UP whilst making noise for the MDGs. Students then
proceeded to the dining hall where they continued making noise for the MDGs by banging
spoons on metal plates as a way of illustrating hunger.
DAY 2: RADIO DISCUSSION @ KFm 103.7, KUMASI, 18TH SEPTEMBER, 2010
The Programmes Director of YPWC, Francis Koomson and the Development Officer, Stephen
Acheampong had a fruitful discussion live on KFm 103.7 with Nana Gyantuah, the host of
the popular ‘Entertainment Edge’ in Kumasi.
Francis Koomson, YPWC's Programme's Director, on air in Kumasi
Discussion centered on MDGs, the need for localizing the MDGs, citizens participation and monitoring at the grassroot level, recommendations on what Government must do in order to realize the MDGs by 2015, and why SUTA 2010.
After the discussion they held a phone-In Segment during which callers requested information on MDGs, how they can participate in the annual STAND UP call, and how to be involved in ensuring they hold government accountable.
YPWC staff ensured that the message was passed on to callers during the phone in session.
DAY 3: MAKE NOISE FOR THE MDGs AT CHURCH SERVICES,
19TH SEPTEMBER, 2010
YPWC took the SUTA activities to the Pakyi No. 2 and Ahenema Kokoben Assemblies of
the Church of Pentecost respectively.
In both locations the Presiding Elders read the pledge to the congregation after the Programmes Director had done the yeoman job of explaining the SUTA 2010 to the congregation.
Members numbering 250 and 425, respectively, stood up and made noise for the MDGs. The congregations sung and played musical instruments, vuvuzelas and whistles.
OTHER YPWC ACTIVITIES
1. Isaac Twumasi Ampofo, the Executive Director of Richbone Initiative Foundation (RBI)
in Accra, organized the STAND UP event successfully at Sarfoa Memorial School by
kicking out poverty through a football competition involving students, teachers and
staff of RBI. It drew a crowd of 250 people.
2. Matthew Yosah, a Project Officer of YPWC for the Northern Sector of Ghana, in
collaboration with his MDGs Support Club, held a SUTA 2010 event at
University of Development Studies. Check this link:
http://www.ghananewsagency.org/s_economics/r_20523/
3. Samson Nimako, an MDGs advocate, organized a STAND UP event at Church of
Pentecost, Assin Sibinso Assembly, with a church population of 100 people. Members
openly declared their stand against poverty and made noise with the musical
instruments to that effect.
4. Abdul Hasim, an MDGs advocate, organized the STAND UP event at Bunkprungu
Senior High School in the Northern Region through a football match. 270 people
including students and the public partook in the event kicking out poverty.
What Did YPWC Learn From This?
During the activities it became clear that there was little knowledge of what the MDGs are. We identified a need to educate and inform the citizens on MDGs and more especially on global development issues.
YPWC would want to strengthen its Development Education Unit by opening more development education clubs at various first cycle and second cycle institutions in the country to train students on MDGs and how they can be involved in development issues.
YPWC would like to collaborate more closely with the media, especially the radio stations, to cover a larger spectrum of people in the MDGs education process, and also on global development issues.
What were the Challenges?
The main challenge was that the media showed little or no interest in the event and in development issues, generally. such as MDGs. They appear to be more interested in political issues than social issues, even though the MDGs are both political and social.
The public has little awareness of the MDGs indicating that better communications is needed to raise public awareness of the MDG campaign itself, and then on tangible strategies to try and meet the MDGs.
Actions Going Forward
YPWC believes that MDGs/GCAP Ghana, in collaboration with partner organisations, should take on the task of reminding Government of their pledge to realize the MDGs by 2015 through press releases, letters to Members of Parliament, planned peace protests and through any other appropriate medium.
MDGs/GCAP Ghana together with its partner organisations should seek ways of
monitoring progress at the grassroot level and encouraging citizen participation in the
realization of the MDGs.
We recommend that governments should adopt a reliable scoring model to enable them assess the trend of progress made in realizing the MDGs by 2015.
To raise awareness, YPWC will produce a Youth Community Action Guide on the MDGs to guide young people in taking more action on the MDGs at the grassroot level.
