Vice President Amissah Arthur Charges Youth To Seek Academic Excellence 

Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has underscored the need for formal education in the pursuit of academic knowledge and life skills. 

However, if formal education is not grounded on a solid foundation of morality, aided by the development of personal character, the youth will be unfit to assume the positions of leadership.

Speaking at the 2016 Head of State Awards at the Banquet Hall of the Flagstaff House in Accra, Vice President Amissah-Arthur said the award scheme, therefore, provides the framework that helps young  people develop the skills necessary for life. 

He said the youth are the future leaders of the country. 

It is therefore important that they develop the confidence to tackle challenges and cultivate the values that will enable them to become good citizens. 

He said when young people possess a strong sense of responsibility towards society, with strong civic consciousness to support others, it helps to develop a more cohesive and resilient country. 

The Earl of Wessex Prince Edward urged the award winners to share the experiences gained to inspire other youth for the development of their communities. 

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderupuye, encouraged and assured the award winners that the ministry will support them, and through the Head of State Award  Scheme monitor them in order for them to be agents of change and transform their communities and Ghana as a whole. 

He said the ministry will further collaborate with the award scheme to expand it across the country so that the spirit of voluntarism, building of a committed, devoted, dedicated and disciplined Ghanaian youth to be enhanced in the coming years. 

The Head of State Award Scheme also known as the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award has trained four million young people with life skills and community development in its 60 years of existence. 

Ghana will host the International Awards Summit, organised by the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme in 2018.

GBC