Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST) Partners Global Reset to Hold Global Youth Summit

The Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST) in collaboration with Global Reset has organized a global youth summit on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 3-day event held from 21st - 23rd November was hosted by the University of Ghana at the Cedi Conference Centre and auditorium of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER).

The summit brought over 500 delegates from 32 countries to deliberate on past, current and future strategies to ensuring sustainable impact. A host of distinguished personalities including Her Excellency Dr. Jewel Taylor, Vice President of Liberia; Prof. George Gyan-Baffour, Minister of Planning; Dr. Eugene Owusu, Special Advisor on SDGs, Office of the President;  Her Excellency Sabine Nolke, Canadian Acting High Commissioner to Ghana and Togo and Ambassador Giovanni Favilli, Italian Ambassador to Ghana were present at the Summit. 

A cross-section of audience at the summit

In brief welcome remarks during the opening ceremony, Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, Vice-Chancellor, expressed excitement that the University of Ghana was hosting the summit and urged all participants to give productive insights to enrich the discussions. He highlighted the work of some units within the University contributing to the attainment of the SDGs and emphasized the University’s commitment to impact communities.

The Minister of Planning, Prof. George Gyan-Baffour, delivered the keynote address on behalf of the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. He spoke about government’s 3-tier approach to ensuring that the SDGs make meaningful impact on societies through strategic interventions at the national, regional and local levels. He added that with the President of Ghana being co-chair of the SDGs, Ghana is at the forefront of implementing targeted approaches on a global scale and urged Africans to support this agenda.

The final day which was an all-women summit to deliberate on issues affecting women’s participation in SDG discourse saw a convergence of gender advocacy groups and individuals contributing to the development of women. The Director, IAST and host of the Summit, Prof. George Oduro Nkansah presented an outline of the Institute’s role in increasing participation of women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematic (STEM) programmes within the university community and beyond. He also applauded the initiative of SDG Ambassadors Kwame Opoku and Matthew Mensah for convening the summit.