In a vibrant atmosphere of worship and celebration, Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang on Saturday honoured the 2026 PENSA ‘Gospel and Power Conference’ with her presence, calling on participants from across the country to uphold excellence, integrity, and purposeful leadership in both academia and faith.
Addressing a packed auditorium at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh, amid rousing cheers and applause, the Vice President described PENSA as “a constituency of responsibility,” emphasising the pivotal role Christian students play in shaping Ghana’s future. She underscored the intrinsic link between the Church and academia, stressing that both spheres must be “deliberately nurtured and anchored in shared values that foster character and competence.”
She urged participants to commit themselves fully to their academic work, stressing that excellence is non-negotiable.
“Be excellence-oriented in your studies,” she advised, warning against shortcuts. According to her, “when standards decline, corruption thrives, and character becomes optional.”
The Veep reminded the youth that habits formed on campus eventually govern private life and public leadership, adding, “What you practice now establishes patterns that will later rule your life.”
Touching on leadership, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang stated: “Leadership announces itself early, even on campus.” She encouraged student leaders to manage resources responsibly, with particular concern for the vulnerable. She urged participants to remember their parents, friends, cleaners, labourers, hawkers, and others who support their journeys, noting, “When you use your privilege to better the lives of others, you are doing God’s work.”
She cautioned against ambition detached from values, describing it as dangerous and self-serving.
“Ambition must bring others along,” she said, encouraging participants to be positively ambitious, initiative-driven, and focused on building value, not merely acquiring credentials. She added that national development depends on people who can “turn good ideas into businesses and skills into value,” urging the youth to apply learning with purpose and aim at creating jobs, not only seeking them.
Addressing young women in particular, the Vice President encouraged resilience and diligence, noting that influence comes through hard work, support, and recognition of others.
“Unfairness must not paralyse you,” she said, adding that “excellence over conformity is what Ghana needs.”
She concluded by reminding participants that “the Ghana we all desire will not assemble itself; it must be built diligently and responsibly,” praying that all gathered would commit themselves to that national task.
The Youth Ministry later presented a citation to the Vice President, thanking her for her presence and pledging to uphold her counsel.
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