The theme of the forum was: “Harnessing Lessons in MDGs and Domesticating the SDGs to Tackle the Unfinished Agenda of MDGs.”

Sustainable development, according to the Brundtland Commission of the United Nations, was development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

A statement released by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) says to commemorate this year’s International Day of the Girl-Child and reflecting on the achievements of the past 15 years of the MDGs and planning towards the attainment of SDGs for the next 15 years, was an opportune time for the country to consider the importance of social, economic and political investment in the empowerment of adolescent girls.

Dr Gayle also said that the SDGs were a continuation of the MDGs which were adopted by the United Nations in 2000 to address global developmental challenges, adding that if the unfinished agenda of MDGs were not attained, the gains in poverty reduction and access to primary education could be eroded.

She said it is unfortunate that after 15 years of the MDGs, Ghana was still struggling to address maternal mortality issues, pointing out that there was the need for sustained efforts “to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for people of all ages, and to achieve gender equality.”

To that effect, she called on civil societies to brainstorm and adopt pragmatic measures on how to achieve the demands of the SDGs because Ghana was not able to attain all the demands of the MDGs of 2000-2015.

For her part, the African Co-ordinator of Action 2015, Mrs Kyerewa Asamoah Sekpey, said for the SDGs to be successful, there was the need for collaboration between civil societies and the national statistical officers to ensure that there was accurate data for making progress toward achieving those goals.

Mrs Sekpey also called on the media to assist the government and civil societies in educating the public on their reproductive heath care.

The Programme Officer of the Family Health Division of Ghana Health Service, Mrs Gladys Brew, urged stakeholders to assist the government in constructing health posts in areas where clinics are not accessible.That, she believed, would help to reduce maternal mortality rates in the country.