The 77th Annual New Year School and Conference (ANYSC), a flagship programme of the College of Education of the University of Ghana, was yesterday launched in Accra.
The conference, which was launched by the School of Continuing and Distance Education (SCDE) of the university, brings together experts and academia to discuss topical national issues and propose solutions to them.
It would be on the theme: “Building the Ghana we want together for sustainable development.”
The three-day event, scheduled for January 6-8, 2026, at the Great Hall of the university, would explore the central theme through a range of activities.
President John Dramani Mahama is expected to open the conference.
Among dignitaries who attended the launch were the Presidential Advisor on 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development, Augustus Goosie Tanoh; Provost of the College of Education, Professor Samuel Nii Ardey Codjoe; Dean of the School of Continuing and Distance Education, Professor Olivia Kwapong, and the College Registrar, Joseph Nkansah.
Also in attendance were members of the SCDE management committee and directors of the annual conference, among others.
The conference would focus on four major sub-themes — building a vibrant and resilient economy for national growth and prosperity; nurturing human capital for inclusive development; good governance and the fight against corruption, and promoting industrialisation, revitalisation, support and transformation
The conference aims to address topical national issues that align with the current government’s development agenda.
Significance
Prof. Codjoe said for over 75 years, the platform had shaped national policy thinking, civic engagement and development discourse.
He said this year’s theme challenged the nation to reflect deeply and take bold action in shaping a future where governance was responsive, institutions were trusted and citizens were empowered to contribute meaningfully to sustainable development.
Prof. Codjoe added that the vision for Ghana must be driven by innovation, equity, ethical leadership and a shared sense of responsibility towards national progress.
“The Ghana we want must be anchored on three pillars—education that transforms, technology that empowers, and partnerships that deliver impact,” he said.
Prof. Codjoe further urged stakeholders to move beyond discussions and ensure that the ideas generated translated into policies and actions that would bring about real change.
Partnership
For her part, Prof. Kwapong announced a partnership with the EdTech Resource Ecosystem (Series project team), which would engage participants and also support discussions throughout the event.
She commended the Provost of the College of Education for championing inclusivity and ensuring the conference was not planned or executed in isolation.
As part of preparations, Prof. Kwapong said more than 20 academic abstracts had been received for presentation during the conference, with plans already underway to compile them into an edited publication.
24H+
Mr Tanoh, who did the launch, described the government’s flagship 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme (24H+) as a structured national response to deep-rooted economic weaknesses that had limited productivity, value addition and export competitiveness.
The programme, he explained, aimed to transition Ghana into a self-sufficient, industrial, export-oriented economy built on reliable value chains and a globally competitive workforce.
Mr Tanoh said that the country’s economic challenges were not abstract figures but lived realities faced by families, workers, farmers and businesses every day.
“Our production base is too thin, our markets do not always function efficiently, and many of our people remain in work that pays little and offers limited prospects for mobility,” he added.
Mr Tanoh stressed the need for collaboration to achieve the country's development agenda, saying “progress depends on how well all of us, government, private sector, academia, civil society, faith-based organisations, traditional authorities, and citizens across all regions work together”.
