President John Dramani Mahama has called on scholars and public intellectuals to play a more active role in shaping Ghana’s future by providing research-driven solutions to national and global challenges.
Speaking at a webinar of academics and thought leaders on Friday, March 6, 2026, under the theme “Ghana in Uncertain Times: Independence, Crisis, and Possibility,” the President said the country must rely on intellectual leadership and innovation to navigate an increasingly complex world.
According to him, Ghana and the global community are currently facing multiple challenges, including climate change, technological disruption, and shifting geopolitical dynamics. He stressed that such uncertainties require thoughtful and evidence-based responses from scholars and policy thinkers.
“These are indeed uncertain times, globally and locally. We face climate emergencies, technological disruptions, and shifting geopolitical dynamics. Yet the uncertainty need not be despair.
"History teaches us that Ghana often finds strength in moments of challenge.” - President John Dramani Mahama
President Mahama reflected on Ghana’s independence history, noting that the country’s liberation struggle was driven not only by political activism but also by strong intellectual engagement.
He pointed to the leadership of Kwame Nkrumah and other nationalist figures, explaining that their ideas, debates, and scholarship helped shape the movement that eventually led to Ghana’s independence.
“On March 6, 1957, our founders did not simply declare independence; they affirmed the power of ideas. Our liberation struggle was shaped by scholarship, debate, and intellectual courage.” - President John Dramani Mahama
He emphasised that independence itself represented a victory of knowledge and intellectual resistance over colonial rule. “Independence was in many ways the triumph of knowledge over subjugation,” he added.
President Mahama further challenged scholars to contribute to transforming Ghana’s political independence into sustainable economic and technological progress.
According to him, the country’s long-term prosperity will depend on research, innovation, and knowledge production capable of addressing contemporary national challenges.
“Now the question is, how do we turn political independence into lasting economic and technological sovereignty?
"How do we create prosperity and hope amid uncertainties? The answer lies rightly in the power of research, innovation, and knowledge production.” - President John Dramani Mahama
The President urged Ghana’s academic community to remain engaged in national development by offering ideas and solutions that can help guide policy and strengthen the country’s resilience in uncertain times.
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