President Mahama Opens UG 77th New Year School, Calls for Unity in National Development, Announces 10,000-Bed Hostel and DYV Allocations
President John Dramani Mahama has opened the University of Ghana’s 77th Annual New Year School and Conference, calling for unity and collective responsibility in national development, while announcing plans for a 10,000-bed student hostel and allocations to support the Digital Youth Village & Centre for Digital Youth Development (DYV-CDYD).
The opening ceremony, held at the Great Hall on Tuesday, January 6, brought together policymakers, academics, civil society actors, and students to deliberate on strategies for Ghana’s development under the theme, “Building the Ghana We Want, Together for Sustainable Development.” The event was attended by ministers of state, leadership of public institutions and government agencies, private sector partners and other key stakeholders.
President Mahama was received by the Chair of the University Council, Madam Marietta Agyeiwaa Brew and the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo.
In his address to formally open the School and Conference, the President stressed that Ghana’s socio-economic challenges require inclusive growth, coordinated long-term planning and a shared national vision.
“Building the Ghana we want demands unity of purpose and collective effort across all sectors of society,” he said, noting that sustainable development can only be achieved through collaboration among government, academia, civil society and citizens.
He described the New Year School and Conference as a critical platform for bridging research, policy and practice, adding that deliberations from the forum are expected to inform policy decisions and deepen stakeholder engagement in national development.
As part of measures to improve student welfare, President Mahama announced plans to construct a 10,000-bed student hostel at the University of Ghana to address accommodation challenges and enhance student safety.
He explained that the project follows an agreement signed during a recent visit to Singapore and will be delivered using prefabricated building technology.
“When I went to Singapore, we signed an agreement for a 10,000-student hostel in the University of Ghana. This is going to be a prefabricated building, meaning it will be manufactured off-site and assembled on campus,” the President said.
He disclosed that preparations for the project are already underway, with machinery for the factory that will manufacture the hostel components shipped from Singapore and currently en route to Accra.
President Mahama linked the project to growing concerns about student accommodation, observing that the increasing number of students living off campus has created safety and welfare challenges.
He cited incidents involving students commuting from off-campus residences who had been knocked down by vehicles or attacked by armed robbers, sometimes with fatal consequences, stressing the need to house more students on or near campus.
“It is preferable that we have as many of our students living on campus, or as close to campus as possible,” he said.
The President also announced allocations to support the Digital Youth Village & Centre for Digital Youth Development (DYV-CDYD) at the University of Ghana, an initiative focused on addressing youth unemployment through digital entrepreneurship and skills development.
The DYV-CDYD operates in partnership with the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations and the Ministry of Finance, connecting policy, academia and industry through hands-on training and business incubation to equip Ghanaian youth to thrive in the digital economy.
On another national concern, President Mahama addressed the issue of illegal small-scale mining (galamsey), noting that every effort is being made to curb the menace and protect Ghana’s natural resources. He explained that coordinated action across government agencies, traditional authorities and local communities is essential to ensure sustainable management of the country’s mining sector.
President Mahama reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting public universities and initiatives that enhance access to education, student welfare and youth development.
The Annual New Year School and Conference remains one of the University’s flagship public engagement platforms, providing space for evidence-based discussions on national development priorities and policy direction.