Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has challenged Ghanaians to ensure that the country’s historic investment in education delivers concrete development outcomes.
She made the call on Friday, March 13, during the University of Cape Coast’s inaugural Distinguished Fellow Award Ceremony, where she was honoured for her contributions to the university, her advocacy for education, and her trailblazing leadership as a woman in public service.
In her acceptance speech, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang reflected on Ghana’s longstanding commitment to education, highlighting the steady growth of tertiary institutions since independence as proof of the nation’s recognition of education’s transformative power.
“Since this university was founded by Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, it has served as a reminder that Ghana has always invested heavily in the education of its people,” she said.
She challenged the audience to consider whether educational attainment is being translated into meaningful societal impact, cautioning against pursuing knowledge for its own sake.
“Higher education is a privilege, and we must ask whether the knowledge we acquire serves the society that made it possible,” the Vice President said.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang stressed that education should extend beyond theory, directly contributing to national development. She called for stronger institutions to support Ghana’s growth agenda and urged all beneficiaries of the educational system to recognise their responsibility to give back.
“Our education challenges us to make tangible improvements in our nation so that we can take pride in our identity and capabilities,” she said. “This responsibility does not belong only to scholars—it belongs to every person who benefits from our institutions.”
Framing national development as an intergenerational project, she added: “We inherit systems, ideas, and institutions, and we must strengthen them while contributing something of ourselves to improve them.”
The ceremony marked the first time the University of Cape Coast conferred the title of Distinguished Fellow, choosing to honour one of its own distinguished alumna and former Vice-Chancellor.