Confab of university leaders slated for Accra
The Accra International Conference Centre will, from July 27 to 29, witness the gathering of academic and financial experts as the country hosts the next conference of university leaders.
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The three-day event, to be hosted jointly by Vice-Chancellors Ghana (VCG) and the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), will be on the theme: “Defining the responsible university: Society, impact and growth”.
Ghana becomes the first sub-Saharan African country to host the event, which about 400 delegates from across the Commonwealth are expected to attend.
A statement issued by the Executive Secretary of the VCG, Mr Peter Kaba, said “the attractiveness of Ghana to the international community places the country in a unique position to host the conference”.
“This international conference of academia in the Commonwealth offers our universities and Ghana a rare opportunity to showcase our contribution to high education as a lead country spearheading Africa’s science and technology education and training. This is something Ghana needs to be proud of,” it said.
It said as part of the conference, the delegates would visit tourist attractions in Kumasi and Cape Coast.
Topics
Among topics to be addressed at the conference are: “Democratic governance and development of civil society: A catalyst for change”; “Entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation”; “The challenge of finance and access: Mechanisms, funding and state support”; “Research and development: Maximising external investment and the benefit to society”; “Universities’ social responsibility”; and “Building the skilled leaders of tomorrow: The role and place of government and the corporate sector”.
Dignitaries
Among the dignitaries expected at the event are the new Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Ms Patricia Scotland; the former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr Kofi Annan, who will deliver the keynote address, and President John Dramani Mahama, who is expected to open the conference.
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Other renowned personalities to be at the conference are the mobile phone entrepreneur, Mr Mo Ibrahim; a former Nigerian Finance Minister, Madam Ngozi Okonjo Iweala; the International Monetary Fund boss, Christine Largade; a former CEO of AngloGold Ashanti and Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Sir Dr Sam Jonah; Ghana’s Minister of Education, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang; ministers of state and members of the Diplomatic Corps.