Mr. Yaw Osafo-Maafo
Senior Minister, Mr. Yaw Osafo-Maafo, has said the education sector will play an integral role in government’s Ghana Beyond Aid agenda.
Addressing a student’s forum on the vision of Ghana Beyond Aid at the KNUST campus in Kumasi yesterday, under the theme “Education at the heart of attaining Ghana Beyond Aid – taking stock of our progress, looking into the future,” the Senior Minister said education was a pivotal tool in achieving socioeconomic mobility and building a country that was capable of providing it needs.
“No country has ever developed on the back of ignorant citizens. Education is the foundation of nation building, advancement of civilization and the surest way to ensure upward socioeconomic mobility to create shared prosperity and inclusive society. Ghana has resolved to pursue the vision of Ghana Beyond Aid by maximizing our resources. Our most important resource for national development is our human resource.
“As you listen to various resources and investments, it is obvious that this government has prioritized the need to develop the human resource base of the development of this country and there is no turning back. No cost is too high to develop the younger generation to become a globally competitive workforce,” he added.
He said government would continue to develop plans and policies which reflected the aspirations of the youth and students so as to acquire skills and secure a future that was full of hope and prosperity.
Isaac Jay Hyde, President of the National Union of Ghana Students, lauded the Ghana Beyond Aid agenda and said it was in synch with the global call for sustainable development which called for active participation of young people in sustainable development at all levels.
He charged students to take centre stage in the socioeconomic development of the country and contribute their quota in building a country that was capable of fending for itself.
Secretary of the Ghana Beyond Aid Committee, Dr. Eric Yeboah, presenting the overview of the agenda, said the Ghana Beyond Aid was a proactive call on Ghanaians irrespective of party affiliation to bring all hands on deck and build a robust Ghana that was capable of creating opportunities for young people.
Panelists at the forum included the Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum; the Executive Director of the Council for Technical and Vocational Education (COTVET), Dr. Fred Asamoah; the Administrator of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), Mr. Richard Boadu; and President of the Greater Accra Regional Student Representative Council (GAR-SRC), Miss Sandra Boateng.
From I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi