STATEMENT BY AMB. HAROLD ADLAI AGYEMAN
ON BEHALF OF THE AFRICAN GROUP
AT THE GENERAL DEBATE OF THE SECOND COMMITTEE
SEVENTY-SIXTH SESSION OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
5 OCTOBER 2021
Madame Chair,
I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the African Group.
At the outset, I wish to congratulate you Ambassador Vanessa Frazier, on your election as Chair of the Second Committee. I also congratulate the other members of the Bureau. This year is a historical one marked by an all-Women elected Bureau. We are delighted about this favorable situation and look forward to working with you and your team. We are confident that you will be able to build on the successful chairmanship of Ambassador Amrit Bahadur Rai during the previous session. The African Group aligns its position with the statement delivered by Guinea on behalf of the G77 and China and wishes to highlight the following additional remarks:
- We take note of the recommendations in the Reports of the Secretary-General under the various agenda items and recognize their importance in enriching consideration of the different questions before the Second Committee.
- For the second year in row, we are holding the General debate of the Second Committee in the challenging context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Committee continues to have the responsibility to discuss in an effective, frank, and concrete manner the measures and actions needed to accelerate the path toward a sustainable and resilient recovery, as well as to follow up on the achievement of sustainable development in its economic, social and environmental dimensions. We believe that the overarching theme of this session: Crisis, Resilience and Recovery - Accelerating Progress towards the 2030 Agenda, is a solid focus area.
Madam Chair,
- The African group is of the view that we need to capitalize on the discussions, recommendations and commitments taken during the High-level events that took place during UNGA76 high-level week, namely: the Second SDG Moment summit, the Food Systems Summit, the High-level Dialogue on Energy, the High-level round table on Climate action as well as the High-level event on job creation and social protection.
- During these events many African leaders had voiced Africa's priorities, concerns as well as endeavors to achieve prosperity and sustainable development despite the ongoing crisis.
A sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic requires today, more than ever, a greater focus on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in the context of the Decade for Action, policies that are more effective, stronger national institutions as well as a greater regional and international coordinated action.
The spread of COVID-19 has exacerbated poverty, deepened hunger, and widened economic and social inequalities within and among countries. It has also overstretched public health systems, especially in Africa, and caused an enormous global economic, social, and humanitarian meltdown. This situation is negatively impacting the well-being and livelihoods of people at all levels, especially in the areas of health, food security, and education.
We stress the need for the removal of export barriers to provide African countries with therapeutics and diagnostics and to ensure full access to the COVID-19 vaccines. We can’t emphasize enough the need to make vaccines global public goods.
Amidst the current global crisis, and while we recognize the need for Global solutions for the current global challenges, there is a need to elaborate solutions at the local and regional levels, that are adapted to their specific contexts.
Madam Chair,
While we are aiming to find the adequate financial solutions to ensure a sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and while it is the least contributor to climate change, Africa remains disproportionately affected by its devastating impacts. The impacts of climate change are a reality in Africa, especially in the Sahel Region. These impacts pose an existential