Madam Marietta Agyeiwaa Brew, the Chairperson of the University Council, University of Ghana, has reiterated that nation-building is a shared responsibility, and the effort of each and every Ghanaian is needed to achieve definite results.
“Nation-building is not a solitary pursuit. It is not the preserve of the Executive, Judiciary, or the Legislature alone. It is a collective enterprise,” Madama Brew stated on Tuesday in her welcome remarks at the 77th Annual New Year School and Conference at the University of Ghana, Legon, Accra.
The four-day programme, organised by the School of Continuing and Distance Education under the College of Education of the University of Ghana, is on the theme “Building the Ghana We Want, Together for Sustainable Development.”
The programme brought together policymakers, academics, industry leaders and development partners to deliberate on Ghana’s development priorities and pathways toward sustainability.
“As the adage goes, one finger is not enough to lift a load. The word together signifies that progress is not achieved by accident or through the work of a few,” the Chairperson said.
“Progress can only be achieved through disciplined and collective action across every layer of society. Every hand must play its part.”
Madam Brew said tradition was the anchor of every great institution, stating that for 77 years, as the New Year breaks over the nation, the University of Ghana had gathered the finest minds – from academia to industry, from the marketplace to the farm, from cities and villages – to deliberate the course of our nation.
“Today, we continue that long-standing tradition. Over the years, the Annual New Year School and Conference has established itself as a platform for critical discourse on all facets of national life,” she said.
“By harnessing the collective expertise of diverse professionals, the School has consistently evolved, driving a research and development agenda that extends far beyond the University of Ghana, into the very heart of our nation.”
The Chairperson extended an invitation to participants to reflect on the theme of the conference, “Building the Ghana We Want Together for Sustainable Development, particularly on three critical words: “Want,” “Together,” and “Sustainable.”
She reiterated that these were not just fanciful words, adding that they were guiding principles that demand careful interrogation.
Touching on “The Ghana We Want”, Madam Brew said, “this acknowledges a profound truth: that the Ghana we live in today is not yet the Ghana we can become”.
She said it recognises a gap between where they were and where they ought to be.
“As we navigate a period of change in all aspects of our national life, we must define precisely what that ‘want” looks like,” she said.
“Is it just economic stability, or is it a Ghana of social justice, where the rule of law is supreme? The Ghana we want should not be limited to expanding wealth alone. It must be matched by social justice, where growth is accompanied by dignity and where the rule of law is absolute.”
Concerning sustainable, the Chairperson said, “We do not desire progress that is periodic or reversible. We seek development that surpasses political cycles and is resilient enough to endure changing leadership and shifting global conditions.
She noted that true sustainability lies in systems, institutions, policies and values that deliver results long after their architects have exited the stage.
She said this Year’s School was not a passive forum, saying “it is an active construction site.
“Over the next few days, we should be the architects, the masons and the surveyors, interrogating, testing and ensuring that what we build will stand the test of time.”
Madam Brew said she recognised the significant work of the School of Continuing and Distance Education, College of Education of the University of Ghana, in sustaining and nurturing the Annual New Year School and Conference for 77 years.
Adding the persistence and resilience of the School was truly commendable.
“Also, we eagerly await the completion and unveiling of the Digital Youth Village,” she said.
Madam Brew said this initiative would ultimately expand the University’s impact among the country’s young population.
She extended special appreciation to the Government for the immense support so far, adding that they plead for continuous support to facilitate completion and utilisation of the project.
Madam Brew said the presence of President John Dramani Mahama at the event signified that the highest office of the land values dialogue and citizen engagement.
“We know your administration is focused on ‘resetting’ and revitalising our productive sectors.”
The Chairperson said the early actions and policy directives from President Mahama’s administration point to a deliberate effort to reset governance, stabilize the economy, rebuild trust through consultation and institutional respect and ultimately improve the lives of Ghanaians.
She assured the President that the Annual New Year School and Conference platform would provide dispassionate, evidence-based scrutiny and support for these national goals
