The Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission and Senior Advisor to the President on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, presented Ghana's third Voluntary National Review (VNR) report at the 2025 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The report, prepared by the National Development Planning Commission in collaboration with the SDG Implementation Coordination Committee (ICC) and Technical Committee, and subsequently launched by the President of Ghana, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, underscores Ghana's commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It highlights the country’s determination to address challenges in SDGs implementation and ensure that no one is left behind.

Dr. Thompson focused on the five key goals of the 2025 HLPF during the presentation: health (Goal 3), gender equality (Goal 5), economic growth and decent work (Goal 8), sustainable use of the oceans (Goal 14), and global partnerships (Goal 17).

He outlined notable achievements, including the increase in skilled birth attendance from 73% in 2014 to 87.6% nationally, as well as child survival rate that continue to improve with under-five mortality rate decreasing from 60 in 2014 to 40 in 2022. He also disclosed that “while neonatal mortality declined from 29 to 17 deaths per 1,000 live births over the same period, this remains above the SDG target of 12 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Dr. Thompson further emphasised progress on gender equality, citing the passage of the Affirmative Action Law in 2024 and the historic appointment of Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as Ghana’s first female Vice President.

In addition, he reiterated Ghana’s commitment to sustainable ocean governance, referencing the country’s ratification of the WTO Fisheries Agreement in 2025.  He detailed initiatives to combat illegal fishing, conserve marine ecosystems, and reduce plastic waste as part of Ghana’s broader environmental strategy. Through strengthened partnerships, digital reforms, and improved tax administration, domestic revenue mobilisation has improved. The proportion of government expenditure financed by domestic taxes increased from 50% in 2016 to 71% in 2023, while fixed broadband subscriptions nearly quadrupled since 2019, reflecting Ghana’s growing global connectivity.
Dr. Thompson also pointed out that Ghana plans to invest US$10 billion over the next five years in infrastructure, green transition initiatives, and nature-based solutions to accelerate progress toward the SDGs.
While admitting these milestones, he acknowledged persistent challenges, including unacceptably high maternal mortality rates, gender income disparities, and youth unemployment. He admitted that much more remains to be done to fully realise the SDGs. Strengthening data systems and enhancing domestic revenue mobilisation will be critical to ensuring that no one is left behind.