Leadership House, a leadership and civic engagement institution aligned with Ghana's New Patriotic Party (NPP), recently organized an event called The Ladder Project. On September 24, 2026, the institution brought together 60 student leaders from the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) to discuss leadership, citizenship, and Ghana's future. This event was held in collaboration with the Graduate Students Association of Ghana (GRASAG-UPSA) and the UPSA Students' Representative Council (SRC).
The event featured former Information Ministers Kojo Oppong Nkrumah and Fatimatu Abubakar as speakers. The discussions focused on "Leadership, Citizenship and Ghana's Next Chapter," combining practical leadership talks with conversations about national challenges and the role of young people in public life. The session aimed to help participants understand leadership as a process extending beyond holding political or institutional positions.
The first session, "The Leadership Journey," examined the experiences that shape leaders before and after occupying public office. Discussions centered on influence before formal positions, critical turning points, failures, and lessons from public leadership. This allowed participants to reflect on their leadership journeys and consider how to apply these insights in their own lives.
The second session, "Ghana's Next Chapter," shifted the conversation to national issues, including governance, economy, employment, education, technology, and public trust. The speakers and student leaders engaged in discussions, enabling participants to examine some of the challenges confronting the country and consider how young people can contribute to addressing them.
The event also included a session called "The Student Leaders' Floor," where participants directly questioned the speakers and shared their perspectives. Students presented short scenarios for discussion, creating an interactive session rather than a conventional lecture or political address. This allowed student leaders to raise issues important to their generation and hear responses from experienced politicians.
The program concluded with a synthesis session where participants identified five leadership lessons, five national priorities, and individual commitments arising from the day's discussions. These outcomes are expected to provide a basis for continued engagement beyond the event. Leadership House says The Ladder Project aims to create a structured platform for young people to interact with political and civic leaders on issues affecting their communities and the country.
Leadership House describes itself as a leadership and civic engagement institution focused on developing informed, capable, and public-minded young leaders. The institution emphasizes engagement between political leaders and young people, with attention to leadership development, civic participation, and national issues. Follow-up activities are expected to build on the discussions and commitments made during the UPSA session.
Key points
- The Ladder Project aims to create a platform for young people to engage with political leaders on national issues.
- The event focused on leadership development, civic participation, and national challenges.
- The project is part of Leadership House's efforts to develop informed and capable young leaders in Ghana.
