The Annual New Year School and Conference, a tradition started in 1948 by the University of Ghana, is a beacon of intellectual exchange and national development. The event gathers scholars, policymakers, and students from across the nation to discuss and deliberate on pressing national issues. From health to agriculture, education, and more, the conference covers a wide range of topics. It’s not just a conference, but also, a celebration of knowledge.
The 75th Annual New Year School and Conference held at the majestic Great Hall on the 9th of January with a theme that was also a powerful call to action: “Nurturing Resilience: Adopting Technology and Embracing Humanism for Sustainable Development.” It was organized by the School of Continuing and Distance Education (SCDE) of the University of Ghana in partnership with Tullin University; Estonia, the Ministry of Communication and Digitalization and the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG). In attendance were some notable personalities; H.E Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Hon. Sam Okudzeto, Chairman of the Annual New Year School Corporate Advisory Team, the Chief of Staff, Hon. Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, Mr. Michael Leslie Bartlett- Vanderpuye, President and Group Chairman of M&C Group (Global) and many others.
At the ceremony to officially launch the school and conference, which was chaired by Justice Barbara Frances Ackah-Yensu, the Vice President H.E Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia acknowledged that the theme for this year’s conference was “very apt” and also stressed on the importance of resilience, technology, and humanism for national development. He brought his address to a conclusion by officially declaring the 75th Annual New Year School and Conference opened.
President and Group Chairman of M&C Group (Global), Mr. Michael Leslie Bartlett- Vanderpuye who was the private sector partner for this year’s School delivered a speech that was inspiring and impactful. He highlighted on the previous achievements by the government with regards to technology for positive change and emphasized on the need to invest more in the technology/digitization sector for our common growth. He went on to encourage the audience to hold unto humanity and not lose sight of it in pursuit for technological advancement. He brought his speech to an end by addressing the issue of sustainable development in Ghana, “Sustainable development priorities the needs of people ensuring that technological advancement is not only accessible but it also contributes to improving the quality of life through healthcare accessibility, educational opportunities and poverty alleviation”.
The 75th Annual New Year School and Conference indeed was a platform for dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration. The discussions and presentations provided insights on resilience, technology, and humanism for sustainable development in Ghana.
