The 77th Annual New Year School and Conference has opened at the University of Ghana, Legon.
The Annual New Year School serves as a platform for dialogue, reflection and policy engagement and takes place within the first few calendar days of the year.
This year’s edition is under the theme “Building the Ghana We Want, Together for Sustainable Development”.
Delivering her address, Chair of the University of Ghana Council, Marietta Agyeiwaa Brew, focused on three words in the theme: ‘want’, ‘together’ and ‘sustainable’. She described these words as critical and guiding principles that demand careful interrogation.
She reaffirmed the point that nation-building is not a solitary pursuit but a collective enterprise that every Ghanaian needs to contribute to.
“We seek development that surpasses political cycles and is resilient enough to endure changing leadership and shifting global conditions. True sustainability lies in systems, institutions and policies and values that deliver results long after their architects have exited the stage.”, she added.
Madam Brew, who doubles as the Legal Adviser to President John Dramani Mahama, clarified that building the Ghana we want must not be limited to wealth expansion, “but it must be matched by social justice, where growth is accompanied by dignity and where the rule of law is absolute”.
Addressing the gathering, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, reiterated that Ghana must be deliberate in its path to development.
“This theme is bold in its simplicity and powerful in its intent,” she stated. “Distinguished guests, as we reflect on it, one thing becomes clear. The ‘we’ in the theme is intentional. It reminds us that the future we desire cannot be crafted by one institution, one sector of government or one organisation alone. It calls for all of us, every citizen, old and young, to recognise that we each have a stake in the Ghana we hope to build.”
Prof. Amfo further emphasized that, “The Ghana we desire cannot be spoken into existence. It must be worked into reality, built by our collective efforts, guided by sound policy and held together by our common bond.”
President Mahama, in a brief speech, acknowledged that the theme reflects Ghana’s aspirations. He called for solutions that move from short-term fixes to solutions that are not truncated by changes in government.
“It demands that we move beyond rhetoric to implementation, beyond short-term fixes to long-term solutions, and beyond narrow interest to the national interest. Growth and consolidation must be permanent.
He said state institutions must be strengthened, the economy must grow, and the government must be held accountable.
“We cannot build the Ghana we want if the progress made under one regime is reversed under another,” he added. “Our economic development programmes must be medium to long-term. We cannot build the Ghana we want together if, after every regime change, economic development programmes are discarded and replaced with entirely new ones. Our progress as a nation must transcend political seasons.”
He also addressed the issue of environmental stewardship and climate resilience, stressing the “implementation of sustainable mining practices, protecting forests and water bodies, investing in renewable energy, and strengthening climate adaptation for vulnerable communities.”
In attendance at the event were high-profile officials, including the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama, the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu and other government officials.
The 77th Annual New Year School and Conference will feature various panel discussions on topics of national importance and relevance.
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Source: Afote Asomdwoe Laryea/ATLFMNEWS
