Avoid Dishonesty, Embrace Diligent Learning – Vice President Charges Students at 2026 PENSA Conference

Ferdinand | EducationGhana | January 05| Avoid Dishonesty, Embrace Diligent Learning – Vice President Charges Students at 2026 PENSA Conference

 Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang has urged Ghanaian students to reject academic dishonesty and commit to diligent learning, ethical ambition, and servant leadership at the 2026 PENSA Ghana Conference.

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Vice President Delivers Strong Ethical Message to Ghanaian Youth

Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang has called on students across Ghana to shun dishonesty and dedicate themselves to disciplined learning, character formation, and ethical ambition, stressing that today’s students are tomorrow’s national leaders.She delivered the message at the 2026 Pentecost Students and Associates (PENSA) Ghana Gospel and Power Conference, organised by the Church of Pentecost, where she addressed thousands of young people drawn from tertiary institutions across the country.

A Gathering of Faith, Youth, and National Purpose

The conference brought together an estimated 13,500 participants across five centres, including:

• Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)
• University for Development Studies (UDS), Tamale
• University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa
• Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC), Gomoa Fetteh

The atmosphere across the centres was described as vibrant yet reverent, marked by praise, worship, and a strong sense of unity among young believers from diverse academic and social backgrounds.

University Life as a Training Ground for Character

Addressing the students, Professor Opoku Agyemang stressed that higher education is not only about academic attainment but also about shaping values, habits, and integrity.“Your academic journey will test you with exhaustion, confusion, and doubt. Some courses push you beyond your comfort zone, and some assessments challenge your confidence. These moments are not interruptions to excellence; they are its training ground,” she said.She cautioned students against cutting corners, warning that habits formed in school often follow individuals into their professional lives.“A system shows its values in what it declares and what it allows. Academic dishonesty is not a minor mistake; it is an early warning sign,” the Vice President noted.Her remarks come at a time of growing national concern over examination malpractices, plagiarism, and academic misconduct in Ghanaian institutions.

Leadership Begins in Everyday Campus Choices

Professor Opoku Agyemang urged students to recognise leadership opportunities in everyday campus life, not just in formal positions.“Leadership is taking shape in how you handle group work, who you include or exclude, and how you use influence,” she explained.She encouraged students entrusted with responsibilities, such as managing dues or coordinating activities, to prioritise fairness and protect the interests of the vulnerable.

Ambition Must Be Anchored in Values

The Vice President rejected the idea that ambition itself is harmful, describing it instead as essential for national progress when guided by moral principles.“Ambition itself is not the danger. Ghana needs ambitious, capable young people. The danger lies in ambition disconnected from values,” she said.She challenged students to convert ideas into enterprises, research into solutions, and skills into tangible value for society, noting that resilience is built through discipline and purposeful action.

Special Message to Young Women

Professor Opoku Agyemang delivered a focused message to young women, encouraging them not to be discouraged by uneven expectations or unfair standards in academic or professional spaces.“Leadership does not require you to trade your beliefs for acceptance or excellence for conformity. Ghana requires your full intellect, judgment, and resolve,” she stated.

Servant Leadership and Social Responsibility

The Vice President also called on students to use their intellectual, moral, and spiritual gifts to uplift others, including the less privileged, persons with disabilities, and victims of abuse. She described service to others as both a civic and spiritual duty.

Conference Theme and Opening Address

The conference was held under the theme “The Church Unleashed to Transform Society Through the Gospel and the Power of the Holy Spirit,” inspired by scriptures from Acts 8:4–8, Acts 13:1–2, and Colossians 1:3–6.It was officially opened by Apostle Dr. Ebenezer Hagan, Director of the Youth Ministry of the Church of Pentecost, who described the gathering as a sacred annual altar where lives are shaped and destinies aligned. He called for worship that is God-centred rather than performance-driven and encouraged participants to carry the message beyond the conference grounds.

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PENSA’s Role in Youth Development

PENSA International, a ministry of the Church of Pentecost, empowers students and young professionals to deploy their talents in service to communities in Ghana and beyond. The organisation also facilitates mentorship, networking, and voluntary professional service aligned with national development goals.

A Leader with Deep Educational Roots

Professor Opoku Agyemang brings decades of experience in education to her advocacy. She served as Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast from 2008 to 2012, becoming the first woman to lead a public university in Ghana, and later served as Minister for Education (2013–2017).Her message at the PENSA conference reflects broader national conversations about maintaining educational standards and nurturing ethical leadership among Ghana’s youth.

A Call to Action Beyond the Conference

As the conference drew to a close, participants renewed their commitment to carry the message of integrity, discipline, and service back to their campuses, communities, and future workplaces.The central charge was clear: academic excellence must be matched by character, and national transformation begins with principled individuals willing to live out their values consistently.

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