Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has emphasized that leadership and academic excellence are not mere coincidences, but rather the culmination of deliberate efforts rooted in unshakeable values.
Addressing thousands of students at the PENSA Ghana conference in Gomoa Fetteh, Central Region, she stressed that intellectual rigor, uncertainty, and doubt are not obstacles, but essential catalysts that forge credibility, discipline, and character.
“Intellectual strain, uncertainty, and doubt should not be viewed as obstacles, but as the very training ground that shapes credibility, discipline, and character,” she declared.Â
The Vice President, Opoku-Agyemang cautioned against academic dishonesty, describing it as a red flag indicating dwindling standards.Â
“What students practice in private often determines how they act in public life,” she warned, underscoring the importance of integrity in shaping future leaders.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang urged student leaders to prioritize the collective good, with a special focus on the vulnerable, and to leverage their privilege to uplift others, including those with disabilities.Â
“Leadership must always prioritize the collective good, with special attention to the vulnerable,” she emphasized.
She encouraged the students to embrace entrepreneurship, seize opportunities, and recognize that Ghana’s next phase of development hinges on their initiative, creativity, and ability to translate ideas into solutions.Â
“The future is not something that begins after graduation; it is being created now,” she asserted. “Academic excellence is a discipline, not a performance, and the Ghana we aspire to build will require responsibility, integrity, and service from all of us.”
Speaking directly to the young women in attendance, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang affirmed, “Your presence in leadership spaces is earned and essential.” She urged them to remain grounded in their values and confident in their abilities, despite uneven expectations.Â
“The Ghana we aspire to build will require responsibility, integrity, and service from all of us,” She reiterated, inspiring the students to become agents of positive change.
The conference, held simultaneously at five centers across Ghana, brought together young people shaping Ghana’s future, providing a platform for Prof. Opoku-Agyemang to impart invaluable wisdom and challenge them to excel.
By Sampson Kumah Ifeetwube Elvis
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