President John Dramani Mahama has set the tone for the nation’s educational journey in 2026, calling on schools, teachers, parents and students to become the driving force of a renewed Ghana anchored on discipline, integrity and hard work.
Speaking at the colourful New Year School event at the University of Ghana, Legon, the President described education as the “strongest weapon” for national recovery and growth, urging young people to reject shortcuts to success and embrace values that build character as well as competence.
Addressing academics, students, policy makers and civil society leaders, President Mahama stressed that the future of Ghana would be determined not by rhetoric, but by what happens daily in classrooms across the country. He called for a renewed commitment to quality teaching, critical thinking and innovation, saying the nation must prepare its youth for a fast-changing global economy.
The President also touched on governance, economic reform and social responsibility, assuring Ghanaians that his administration would prioritise investment in education while creating opportunities for skills development and decent jobs. He urged educational institutions to align learning with national development needs, without losing sight of moral formation.
The New Year School, a respected annual platform for national reflection, once again provided space for frank discussion on Ghana’s challenges and prospects.
Participants examined issues ranging from education financing and youth unemployment to leadership and civic duty.
President Mahama’s message resonated strongly with the audience, many of whom saw it as a rallying call to place education at the heart of Ghana’s reset agenda.
As the nation begins 2026, the President’s words at the New Year School stand as a bold challenge: if Ghana must rise, it must first rise in its schools.
