Accra – Wednesday November 27, 2019: The Head of Local Government Service, Dr. Nana Ato Arthur has attended the launch of the 71st Annual New Year School and Conference held at the Alisa Hotel. The programme, organised by the Institute of Adult Education, University of Ghana, Legon was themed Ghana beyond Aid: Challenges and Prospects. It was attended by senior government functionaries, technical advisors and heads of academic institutions. Also in attendance were heads of institutions and organisations, academia, invited guests and a cross section of the media.
Hon. Catherine Afeku who represented the Senior Minister congratulated the organisers for sustaining the Annual New Year School and Conferences programme over the past years. She said the theme for the New Year School resonates well with the thinking of the Ghana beyond Aid Committee. She stated that collaborations, partnerships, dialogue and brainstorming offered by platforms such as the Annual New Year School and Conference hold massive potential to enable Ghanaians of all walks of like examine dispassionately, without partisan lenses the prospects and challenges of the Ghana beyond Aid agenda which she believes would make the agenda a successful endeavor. She added that government looks forward to receiving the feedback from this important conference to aid policy development and implementation effectively. She declared the 71st Annual New Year School and Conference duly launched.
In a brief statement, Dr. Nana Ato Arthur said there is the need to strengthen grassroot democracy through the rejuvenation of the local economy. He reiterated the words of Kofi Annan which says “every development is local” and therefore Ghana beyond Aid should be localized to the maximum to enable districts play a critical role in its implementation for effectiveness and sustainability.
The programme begins from the 13th to 16th of January, 2020 where expert and academia would be engaged to discuss topical national issues of concern.