By | February 18, 2018

University of Ghana Welcomes Her Majesty Queen Mathilde of Belgium

Arriving at the University of Ghana’s Great Hall

Her Majesty Queen Mathilde of Belgium, UN Secretary General’s Eminent Advocate for the SDGs today delivered a Public Lecture to a packed audience at the University of Ghana’s Great Hall.  She was accompanied by her host, His Excellency The President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.  Her visit to the University of Ghana is part of a three-day state visit to Ghana.

She delivered the keynote address on the theme, “The SDGs: A Transformative Agenda for the Future we want”.  Her Majesty said that even though the agenda sets 2030 as the target for achieving the SDGs, which may sound a long way off, there is so much work to be done before then, and countries cannot afford to be complacent about what has been achieved so far.  In direct reference to the student audience, Her Majesty Queen Mathilde said she strongly believed that the SDGs offered the world a framework within which to improve life for everyone, in a sustainable manner.

 

Her Majesty Queen Mathilde of Belgium delivering the Keynote Address at the Great Hall of the University of Ghana

She further argued that the SDGs demonstrate that all the various aspects of development are intertwined, and it makes it imperative to take a comprehensive approach, while taking on the responsibility to ensure the goals are achieved.

 

Her Majesty Queen Mathilde, Queen of Belgium being congratulated by His Excellency The President after she delivered the keynote address.  Looking on is the Vice Chancellor,

Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu

His Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana and Co-Chair of UN Secretary General’s Eminent Group of Advocates for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in special remarks delivered at the lecture, gave a brief report on the strides Ghana has made in relation to achieving the SDGs by 2030.

His Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ebenezer Oduro Owusu delivered the welcome remarks.  In welcoming His Excellency the President and his guest, Her Majesty Queen Mathilde to the University, the Vice Chancellor said he was hopeful the lecture would further push the discussions on the SDGs forward.

 

Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ebenezer Oduro Owusu

There was a period of interactive exchanges with questions from students present, which was responded to by the Vice Prime Minister of Belgium, Alexander De Croo.

Her Majesty was later presented with gifts by the Registrar of the University of Ghana, Mrs. Mercy Haizel-Ashia.

Mrs. Mercy Haizel-Ashia, Registrar, presenting gifts to Her Majesty Queen Mathilde of Belgium

A number of dignitaries were present, among them Ministers of State, members of the Diplomatic Corps, traditional authorities, and from industry and academia.

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