In a thought-provoking keynote address at the 76th Annual New Year School and Conference, Nana Dr. Emmanuel Adu-Sarkodee Afriyie, President of the Ghana Employers’ Association (GEA) and Group Chairman of CDH Financial Holdings Ltd., delivered a clarion call for a united and strategic approach toward achieving sustainable development in Ghana.
Hosted by the University of Ghana, the conference, themed “Attaining the 5-Ps of Sustainable Development for a Resilient Ghana: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, Partnership”, brought together policymakers, academics, and industry leaders to deliberate on Ghana’s future.
Dr. Adu-Sarkodee highlighted Ghana’s pressing challenges, including a 14.7% unemployment rate, elevated inflation at 23.8%, and its 117th ranking on the 2024 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index. He emphasized the urgent need for action, stating, “The interconnectedness of economic progress, environmental sustainability, social equity, and peace is essential for fostering long-term stability and prosperity.”
Dr. Adu-Sarkodee explored Ghana’s trajectory through four critical questions: “Where are we now?”, “Where are we going?”, “Will we get there?”, and “How will we get there?”
He observed that Ghana’s economy remains tethered to industries rooted in earlier industrial revolutions, such as mining and telecoms, while global giants drive the 5th Industrial Revolution through advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics.
The GEA President urged the nation to pivot toward innovation-driven growth, citing examples of countries like Singapore and Taiwan that successfully transitioned from resource-dependent economies. “We must decide whether to be a ‘many-products-in-one-shop’ country or a ‘one-product-in-many-shops’ nation,” he remarked, advocating for focused industrial policies and bold strategic shifts.
Dr. Adu-Sarkodee underscored the pivotal role of education and character development in driving sustainable progress. He criticized the mismatch between the skills taught in Ghana’s education system and the job market demands, noting that only 40% of Ghanaian youth possess the skills employers require.
To address this gap, he called for a transformative approach to education, emphasizing STEM and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). “Practical skills, innovation, and critical thinking should be the core focus, rather than merely pursuing academic excellence,” he said.
The GEA President also championed female leadership development, highlighting the underrepresentation of women in governance and corporate leadership roles. He lauded initiatives like the Female Future Programme, which has trained over 275 women for leadership positions, and expressed optimism about the potential for further progress under the leadership of Ghana’s first female Vice President, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang.
Turning to environmental sustainability, Dr. Adu-Sarkodee did not mince words. He likened the environmental degradation caused by illegal mining and poor waste management to “deferred genocide,” urging strict enforcement of environmental laws and a change in public attitudes.
He drew parallels between Ghana’s neglected waterways and the transformation of global rivers like the Thames and the Seine, advocating for a similar revival of local water bodies.
