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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has advised Ghanaian youths, especially students, to be mindful that formal education is not just about securing excellent academic grades but the acquisition of requisite skills.

President Akufo-Addo said that students must be open-minded enough to acquire skills, values and knowledge that would empower them to make a positive impact on the world.

He encouraged them to be curious, compassionate and resilient because the country looks up to the youth not only as scholars but also as ambassadors of the nation’s potential in engendering progress, prosperity and development.

President Akufo-Addo made these revelations while extending congratulatory messages and advice to the recipients of the President’s Independence Day Awards 2024 in Accra on Friday, 1st March.

At the annual event, 46 students were adjudged the overall best among the 602,477 that sat the 2023 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and were honoured by the President at a ceremony that has become part of the National Independence Day celebration.

Out of the number, 36 were selected from public schools, with the remaining 10 from private schools.

This is the first time students from private schools have been added to the list of awardees.

All the 46 students, who were representative of all the 16 regions, were selected based on their outstanding raw scores obtained during the examination.

Two visually impaired and two hearing impaired students were also given awards for their performances at the exams.

Speaking on the successes of the students, President Akufo-Addo said the successes chalked up by the students were not just personal achievements, but had made them a beacon of hope for the entire nation.

“Ghana’s future lies in the hands of her youth, and you represent the bright future we envision.
I urge you to recognise the responsibility that comes with academic success; a responsibility to contribute positively to the development and progress of our society,” he said.

He exhorted the students that as they progressed in their Pull quote educational journey, whether through senior high school or other pursuits, it was important that they strove for excellence, adding that, “this is just the beginning, and the path ahead is filled with opportunity for growth and exploration”.

President Akufo-Addo urged the students to seize every chance to expand their horizon, embrace challenges, and continue to excel in all their endeavours.

The President commended the students for bringing pride to their communities, parents, schools and themselves, stressing that it was appropriate that they received the plaudits while encouraging them to challenge themselves to the highest pedestal.

He further stressed the commitment of his administration towards education, saying this was not just a moral one but a strategic investment in the intellectual capital that would drive the nation’s economy and innovation in the years to come.