Professor Ransford Gyampo on sustainable development in a polarized society

Speaking at the 8th Biennial Social Science Conference organized by the University of Education, Winneba, Professor Gyampo identified policy discontinuity as a major obstacle, noting that changes in government often lead to the abandonment of ongoing projects and shifts in national priorities. He emphasized that sustainable development requires collective commitment and immediate action to safeguard opportunities for future generations. Professor Gyampo highlighted the critical role of universities as knowledge repositories and custodians of long-term national vision, urging them to educate citizens and promote continuity in development policies regardless of political leadership changes.

He stressed that political polarization weakens social cohesion, encourages short-term policymaking, and transforms complex development challenges into political contests, making sustainable development difficult. He called on universities, lecturers, and students to become facilitators of dialogue, mediators of competing interests, and builders of public trust, moving beyond their traditional roles. Professor Gyampo also stated that communities should be active partners in shaping research and development, consistent with the quadruple helix model of innovatio