The 75th Annual New Year School and Conference has opened at the University of Ghana. The opening ceremony, which took place at the Great Hall, was chaired by Justice Barbara Frances Ackah-Yensu, a member of UG Council, who represented the Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Mrs. Mary Chinery Hesse.

Special Guest of Honor, His Excellency Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice-President of the Republic of Ghana who represented the President of Ghana, acknowledged the theme of this year’s School and Conference as timely.

‘I consider the theme for the ANYSC ‘‘Nurturing Resilience: Adopting Technology and Embracing Humanism for Sustainable Development in Ghana’’ very apt. It could not have come at a better time than this post-pandemic era.’

His Excellency Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice-President of the Republic of Ghana

He added, ‘‘Resilience’, ‘Technology’ and ‘Humanism’ are key ingredients on which national development hinges. In this fast-paced Fourth Industrial Revolution era, technology is considered an enabler which must be leveraged to increase productivity and revenue mobilisation for national development.’

The Vice-President ended his address by declaring the 75th Annual New Year School and Conference duly opened.

In her introductory remarks, Justice Ackah-Yensu highlighted the importance of this year’s theme ‘as it recognises the unprecedented challenges confronting institutions and the need to develop resilience, promote human values and dignity and adapt by leveraging on technology.’

She added that, it draws on the theme for the University of Ghana’s 75th anniversary celebrations and was hopeful that the outcome of discussions from the School and Conference will contribute to the promotion of stronger and more resilient institutions in Ghana, especially institutions that are able to leverage on technology to achieve sustainable growth in a peaceful environment.

Justice Barbara Frances Ackah-Yensu

Justice Ackah-Yensu further underscored the focus of technology in this year’s theme as she believes ‘it certainly augurs well for the drive to improve our standing and performance in the technology space.’

She was hopeful that specific contributions to policy in this area will be proffered in the coming days.

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, in brief remarks, described this year’s theme as, ‘bringing into sharp focus essential attributes such as humanism and resilience which when deployed together with technology is likely to deliver the best outcomes for national development.’

Prof. Amfo outlined the strides her administration has made in the University’s three-pronged digitalisation agenda targeted towards improving students’ experience; namely Classroom Modernisation, The One Student One Laptop (1S1L) initiative and the Construction of Hot-spot Comfort Zones.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo

She further revealed that her administration has approved land for the construction of a Digital Youth Village (DYV), which she believes is a huge breakthrough in the

history of the New Year School and Conference. This project is intended to deliver a first-class ICT facility to unleash the IT potential of youth from all over the country.

In delivering the keynote address, Vice-Rector for Research, Tallin University, Estonia, Prof. Katrin Niglas, shared Estonia’s success story in the education sector. According to her, Tallin University has contributed immensely to this success, as the Estonian education system is based on the comprehensive school principle and equity.

Prof. Niglas noted that due to Estonia’s open, dynamic and digitally adept educational sector, the country was able to survive the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vice-Rector for Research, Tallin University, Estonia, Prof. Katrin Niglas

In concluding her presentation, Prof. Niglas mentioned that Tullin University has partnerships with other institutions, in areas of education and innovation, school development programmes, virtual realities, among others.

There were statements delivered by Hon. Sam Okudzeto, Chairman of the Annual New Year School Corporate Advisory team, Dr. Emmanuel O. Akwetey, Executive Director, Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) and Mr. Michael Leslie B. Vanderpuje, President and Chairman, M&C Group-Global.

In attendance were the Chief of Staff, Hon. Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, Minister for Education, Hon. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Hon. Mrs. Ursula Owusu Ekuful, members of the College Advisory Board, Government Officials, Parliamentarians, members of the Diplomatic Corps, Religious and Traditional Leaders, Alumni and friends of the University.

There were performances by the Ghana Dance Ensemble and the Ghana Police Band.

The School and Conference is taking place from January 9 to 11, 2024, under the theme, “Nurturing Resilience: Adopting Technology and Embracing Humanism for Sustainable Development”. It is being organised by the School of Continuing and Distance Education (SCDE), College of Education and the University of Ghana, in partnership with Tullin University, Estonia; Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Estonia; Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation; Ministry of Finance; Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG); Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT); the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER); Cowbell from Promasidor Ghana Limited and the Omni Group.

The sessions of the School and Conference will take place at the ISSER Conference and culminate in the Youth School on 11th January, 2024.