The 77th Annual New Year School and Conference (ANYSC), a flagship programme of the School of Continuing and Distance Education (SCDE) under the College of Education of the University of Ghana has been launched.
Set to take place from January 5–8, 2026, the 2026 edition will focus on the theme “Building the Ghana We Want, Together for Sustainable Development,” with President John Dramani Mahama expected to deliver the keynote address at the opening ceremony on January 6.
At the opening President John Mahama 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.
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“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.”
Delivering her address, Chairperson 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.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, has called for collective effort and sound policy to turn the nation’s aspirations into reality.
She made the remarks at the opening of the University of Ghana’s 77th Annual New Year School and Conference (ANYSC) on Tuesday, January 6, themed “Building the Ghana We Want, Together for Sustainable Development.”
“The Ghana we desire cannot be spoken into existence; it must be worked into reality, built by our collective effort, guided by sound policy, and held together by our common bond,” Prof. Amfo said.
Highlighting the priorities outlined by President Mahama in his New Year’s message to the nation, she said they reflect the Ghanaian citizens’ desire.
