UEW Public Lecture: Dr. Koranteng-Pipim Advocates Mind Empowerment for Ghana’s Future
The University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Ghana’s premier teacher education institution, became the stage for a profound national conversation on the future of education when renowned leadership expert and author, Dr. Samuel Koranteng-Pipim delivered a powerful address on the theme, "Empowering Minds, Shaping Futures: The Prospects and Challenges of Ghana’s 21st Century Education."
Speaking to a packed auditorium of dignitaries, academics, university administrators, students, and the media, Dr. Koranteng-Pipim issued a stirring call to action for a radical transformation of Ghana’s education system—urging stakeholders to shift from a certificate-oriented model to one that empowers minds for national development and global relevance.
“Education should not be a factory line producing certificates. It should be a furnace refining minds for useful service in today’s world—and the world to come,” he declared.
Using data from the Ghana Statistical Service and UNESCO, Dr. Koranteng-Pipim painted a sobering picture of the current state of Ghanaian education. He cited that 23% of tertiary-educated graduates face long-term unemployment and nearly 80% of children by age 10 cannot read and understand a simple sentence. “We are teaching the 21st century using a 19th-century model,” he lamented, critiquing outdated curricula, lack of innovation and a disconnect between academia and industry.
Highlighting challenges such as bloated theoretical syllabi, low creativity, and what he termed “mental colonisation,” Dr. Koranteng-Pipim advocated for incorporating indigenous knowledge, Afrocentric curricula, entrepreneurship, and practical skills such as STEM, AI and digital literacy.
He emphasised the urgent need to prepare students not just for jobs but for leadership, innovation, and public service. “Degrees do not equal competence; we produce job seekers, not job creators,” he noted.
Praising UEW for its leadership in curriculum renewal and its efforts in teacher development and digital education, Dr. Koranteng-Pipim applauded initiatives such as the iCampus platform, STEAM integration, and industry-academic hubs that are already reshaping education at UEW and across Ghana.
Despite the challenges, Dr. Koranteng-Pipim expressed optimism. “Ghana is doing incredible things in education—sometimes we live in it so long we do not even recognise it.” He called on policymakers, educators, industry leaders, and students to commit to bold reforms. “To policymakers—do not fund bureaucracy, fund ideas. To educators—do not just dump information, teach minds to think. To students—demand growth, not just grades.”
Ending on a resonant note, he challenged the nation to unleash its greatest resource—its minds. “An unempowered mind is dangerous. It is dangerous to ignorance, poverty and oppression. The time to act is now.”
The lecture was attended by prominent figures including Prof. Stephen Jobson Mitchual, UEW Vice-Chancellor; Hon. Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, Deputy Minister of Education; Dr. Edmond Moukala, UNESCO Representative in Ghana; members of the University Council; and international guest speaker Prof. P. L. O. Lumumba.
