His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama delivering remarks at the opening ceremony
His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama has called for sustained national collaboration and development policies that transcend political cycles, as he officially opened the 77th Annual New Year School and Conference at the Great Hall of the University of Ghana.
Delivering his address as Special Guest of Honour, the President stressed that Ghana’s development cannot be achieved by a single administration, emphasising the need for inclusive growth, fiscal discipline and strong institutions. The conference, held on the theme “Building the Ghana We Want Together for Sustainable Development,” brought together ministers of state, senior government officials, regulators, development partners, academics, students, international guests and the media.
Reflecting on his personal journey, President Mahama described the University of Ghana as instrumental in shaping his leadership trajectory. Addressing the persistent challenge of student accommodation, he announced government plans to construct large-scale hostels capable of housing approximately 10,000 students using prefabricated structures, aiming to ease pressure on off-campus living.
Madam Marietta Brew, Chairperson, University Council
Chairing the opening ceremony, the Chairperson of the University of Ghana Council, Madam Marietta Brew, described the New Year School as a national forum for critical reflection on Ghana’s development path. She underscored the importance of collective responsibility and long-term sustainability, appealing for continued government support, particularly towards the completion of the Digital Youth Village project.
Professor Nana Aba Appiah Ampofo, Vice-Chancellor
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Ampofo, welcomed participants and expressed gratitude to the President for honouring the invitation. She described the New Year School as a platform “where the gown meets the town,” noting the University’s contributions to national development through research, innovation and student-focused initiatives. She disclosed that the Digital Youth Village is over 60 per cent complete and appealed for the release of funds to enable its timely completion, noting that the facility would support the government’s One Million Coders Programme.
Mr. Ishmael Yamson, Keynote Speaker
The keynote address was delivered by Mr. Ishmael Yamson, Board Chairman of MTN Ghana. While commending the conference theme as inspiring, he cautioned that slogans alone cannot deliver development. He stressed the need for disciplined execution, leadership character and policy consistency.
Mr. Yamson acknowledged progress in stabilising the economy, citing improvements in inflation and exchange rate management, but warned that stabilisation should not be confused with transformation. He identified structural challenges, including economic dependence on raw material exports, weak value addition, governance failures, corruption and erosion of meritocracy, as key barriers to sustainable growth.
He also cautioned against excessive borrowing, called for stronger fiscal discipline and institutional checks, and advocated the digitisation of public services to reduce corruption. Mr. Yamson further urged educational reforms to align graduate skills with the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Goodwill messages were delivered by key partners. Dr. Johnson P. Asiama, Governor of the Bank of Ghana, highlighted the importance of deliberate choices, sound institutions and shared responsibility. Mr. Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority, reaffirmed his commitment to affordable, quality petroleum products and the sector’s role in national development. Dr. Tony Aubynn, CEO of the Petroleum Hub Corporation, called for structural transformation through industrialisation, value addition and diversification, citing the Petroleum Hub Project at Jomoro as a strategic initiative for long-term growth and job creation. Dr. George Agyekum Donkor, President of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development, noted that Ghana’s development challenges reflect those across West Africa, stressing that progress in Ghana would benefit the wider region.
The opening ceremony concluded with the organisers thanking the President, speakers, partners, performers and participants, while encouraging active engagement in the remaining sessions of the conference.