By Stanley Kwabla Arku
Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has urged Ghana’s young people to lead with integrity, discipline, and purpose, stressing that character, not just academic qualifications, will shape the nation’s future.
Speaking at the PENSA Ghana Conference 2026 at the PCC Gomoa Centre, the Vice President told students that university life is more than a period for acquiring certificates; it is a training ground for leadership. “Leadership does not start with titles, and academic achievement does not begin with certificates. They are cultivated intentionally and rooted in a set of core values,” she said.
The conference, which began on 1st January and runs until 4th January 2026, is taking place simultaneously across multiple centres in Ghana, including PCC-Gomoa Fetten, KNUST Campus, UMAT Campus, Cape Coast, Tamale, University of Cape Coast, and UDS-Dungu Campus. More than 13,000 students are participating nationwide, reflecting the growing influence of PENSA in higher institutions.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang warned that ambition disconnected from values can be dangerous. She emphasized that shortcuts and dishonesty in academics often translate into compromised standards in professional life. “What you practise now, in small and seemingly private ways, establishes the patterns that later govern public life,” she cautioned.
The Vice President also urged students to use their education and privilege to uplift the vulnerable, including the differently-abled, the mentally challenged, and those suffering abuse. “Your education whether intellectual, moral, or spiritual should be applied to aid others. In doing so, you will be doing God’s work,” she said.
Addressing female students, she encouraged them to remain confident and uncompromising in pursuing leadership roles, reminding them that fairness is not always guaranteed but their intellect, judgment, and resolve are essential for Ghana’s growth.
She concluded by stressing that the nation’s future is being shaped now, and the Ghana we all desire will be built patiently, diligently, and responsibly. She urged students to turn ideas into solutions and skills into value, noting that leadership is defined as much by character as it is by credentials.
The PENSA Ghana Conference 2026 continues to provide a platform for students nationwide to reflect on leadership, academic excellence, and moral responsibility as foundations for national development.