Accra, Ghana, May 4, 2012— Having been selected as one of the countries to pilot the UN Secretary General’s Sustainable Energy for All Initiative (SE4All Initiative) and also chosen as one of four countries from the United Nations to put up an exhibition on Renewable and Sustainable Energy and lead the negotiations on land degradation and desertification at the forthcoming UN Conference on Sustainable Development, otherwise known as Rio+20 Conference, Ghana is expected to participate fully in the conference and showcase its achievements on sustainable energy initiatives. This singular honor places Ghana in a special category of countries whose participation and performance at the Conference will attract wide interest” says UNDP officials. The UNDP, in collaboration with the Institute of Diplomatic Practice and Development Policies, is therefore supporting a programme to upgrade the knowledge of Ghana’s delegates to the conference. A 3-day orientation programme for Ghana’s potential core participants is being held in Accra from the 10th – 12th May. The programme is part of a broader national effort to prepare for Rio+20, which is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology with UN support. The objective of the Orientation Programme is to enhance the coordination and knowledge of Ghana’s delegates to the Rio Conference, especially on issues which are pertinent to Ghana’s own sustainable development agenda; the sub regional position, and to ensure that the delegates as well as officials who are likely to be charged with the implementation of the Conference Outcome, are fully conversant with all the dimensions of the subjects to be discussed during the Conference. The Opening Ceremony will be followed with a Media Briefing. Three Ministers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, the Ministry for Environment, Science and Technology and the Ministry of Energy as well as the UN Resident Coordinator in Ghana will brief the media. According to the UN System Chief Executives Board “capacity building in the areas of science, technology and innovation in developing countries--enabled through increased support from the international community…is needed to smooth the transition to sustainable development”. The Board says it is committed to the success of the Rio+20 Conference. This is an opportunity for Ghana to present convincing argument to gain support for strategies that would enable Ghana to achieve triple policy objectives: economic growth, social equity, and environmental sustainability. Cynthia Prah/UN Information, Accra Kareff Rafisura /UNDP Ghana