Ghana’s IAWPA Director Urges African Leaders To Adopt UN STI Forum Outcomes For SDGs Acceleration

The Ghanaz’s Country Director of the International Association of World Peace Advocates (IAWPA), Owusu Ben Samuel, has called on African leaders to urgently adopt and implement outcomes from the 11th United Nations Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Forum to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the continent.

Speaking during the high-level gathering held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from May 6 to 7, 2026, Owusu stressed that Africa already possessed access to technological solutions capable of addressing many of its development and peace challenges, but lacked the political commitment required for implementation.

The Forum, themed “Transformative, equitable and coordinated science, technology and innovation for the 2030 Agenda,” convened global policymakers, scientists, civil society actors and private sector leaders to advance science and innovation-driven solutions with only four years left to meet the 2030 SDG targets.

Owusu attended the forum as part of the delegation of the IAWPA, a non-governmental organisation with Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) since 2019.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, he said African governments must move beyond rhetoric and begin integrating practical STI outcomes into national development frameworks.

“The STI Forum has shown that the technologies to solve Africa’s development and peace challenges already exist. What we need now is political will,” Owusu said.

“I call on African leaders to embrace the outcomes of this Forum, especially equitable, offline-first innovations and integrate them into national SDG implementation plans.”

A prominent advocate for the localisation of SDG policies in West Africa, Owusu also participated in discussions on regional STI cooperation, where he highlighted Ghana’s experience in youth-led peace innovation initiatives and engaged other West African delegates on replicating PeaceTech models across the region.

He warned that many technology-driven solutions discussed at global forums fail to address the realities of rural African communities with limited internet access.

“Most STI solutions presented at the UN were designed for urban, online populations. But 65 per cent of our people in Northern Ghana and across the Sahel have no internet,” he said.

“If STI is not offline-first, it is not equitable. African leaders must demand technology transfer that works for our villages, not just our cities.”

Owusu further urged African Heads of State and ministers expected at the upcoming United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in July 2026 to prioritise peacebuilding and innovation-driven governance reforms.

According to him, governments across the continent must recognise Sustainable Development Goal 16, which focuses on peace, justice and strong institutions as the foundation for achieving every other SDG target.

He also called for increased investments in PeaceTech initiatives through dedicated national budget allocations for low-cost technologies that support early warning systems and conflict mediation mechanisms.

In addition, he advocated stronger collaboration between governments, traditional institutions and organizations such as IAWPA to localize innovation strategies within communities.

“We cannot attend global forums, applaud the ideas, and return home to business as usual. The time for implementation is now,” he stressed.

IAWPA is expected to continue discussions around the STI Forum outcomes during the UN High-Level Political Forum scheduled for July 2026, where Danso Martins Kofi will lead the association’s delegation. Owusu is expected to coordinate West Africa’s contribution to IAWPA’s HLPF agenda.

Owusu has represented civil society organisations at several international conferences over the years, including ECOSOC sessions, the Commission on the Status of Women, and previous STI Forums.

Operating across 54 African countries, IAWPA said it has mobilised more than 10,000 Eminent Peace Ambassadors to promote community-driven peacebuilding and SDG implementation initiatives across the continent.