Participants at the 77th Annual New Year School and Conference have called on the Ministry of Education to take the lead in identifying and nurturing young talent across the country, urging the introduction of a nationwide talent hunt programme in schools.
The proposal, contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the conference, said such an initiative would help discover students with potential in leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship, while providing them with structured mentorship and training to support national development. The communiqué was issued by Professor Simon-Peter Kafui Aheto, Director of the 77th Annual New Year School and Conference of the School of Continuing and Distance Education.
Held under the theme “Building the Ghana We Want Together for Sustainable Development,” the conference also emphasised the need to strengthen youth entrepreneurship by providing access to funding, technical training, regulatory guidance and logistical support. According to participants, the growing number of youth-led social enterprises demonstrates alternative pathways for job creation that can help address unemployment if properly supported.
Beyond education and entrepreneurship, the conference made wide-ranging recommendations touching on sports, health, and governance. It called for the reinstatement of inter-school sports competitions, the allocation of dedicated time for physical education in school calendars, and increased investment in modern sports facilities at community and school levels. Participants also advocated for the creation of an independent sports ethics committee to improve governance and curb corruption in sports administration.
On health and governance, the communiqué urged the integration of health education into school curricula from early childhood, alongside community-based public health campaigns. It further stressed the need to tackle corruption and close the trust gap between citizens and the state through transparency, public engagement, and the prosecution of leaders who violate the law, noting that justice and accountability are essential to building the Ghana envisioned by the conference.
