The Vice-Chancellor of Central University, Prof. Samuel Kwasi Dartey-Baah, delivered a compelling keynote address at the 2nd Annual Central Aid Lecture held on Thursday, 27th November 2025, on the theme:
“Deepening the Culture of Volunteerism for Accelerated Human Capital Development and Social Re-Engineering.”
In his address, Prof. Dartey-Baah traced the 37-year journey of Central Aid, established in 1988 to support vulnerable students and families during one of Ghana’s most challenging economic periods. He emphasized that the organisation remains guided by a core conviction: no child should be denied a future because of circumstances beyond their control.
The Vice-Chancellor highlighted the evolution of Central Aid—especially following the introduction of Free SHS in 2017—into a broader force for human capital development, focusing on tertiary education and community support.
Prof. Dartey-Baah underscored that Ghana’s greatest resource is its people, stressing that national development depends on unlocking creativity, skills, and values through service and volunteerism. According to him, volunteerism is not an act of charity but a strategic tool for nation-building, value formation, and social transformation.
He challenged stakeholders to adopt a more active role in national development, calling on:
- Central Aid to transition from a scholarship agency to a national volunteer movement.
- Students to leverage their skills, energy, and creativity for community service.
- Corporate leaders to make CSR a culture built on employee volunteerism.
- Churches to deploy their enormous capacity for social impact beyond the pulpit.
Prof. Dartey-Baah emphasized that Ghana must move from a “spectator society” to one of active citizenship, noting that “when hearts serve, nations rise.”
The lecture concluded with a call for structured national volunteer programs, cross-sector partnerships, and recognition systems to encourage sustained civic engagement.
About Central Aid
Central Aid is the charitable and social intervention arm of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), dedicated since 1988 to supporting disadvantaged students, families, and communities through scholarships, mentorship, and humanitarian interventions.
The lecture brought together a diverse audience, including students, faculty, alumni, development partners, and representatives from the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Academic City University College, and the Islamic University.
See the full address of the Vice-Chancellor
📄Vice-Chancellor’s Speech Delivered at the 2nd Annual Central Aid Lecture