
Haruna Iddrisu, Minister for Education-designate
By Bright Philip Donkor (News Editor of the Daily Statesman)
Putting population management at the heart of Ghana’s education is a vision for change that will inure to the benefits of both present and future generations. The reason is simple; it is because Ghana is at a pivotal moment where addressing population dynamics can unlock significant pathways to national growth and sustainable governance.
Recognizing this, Dr. Leticia Adelaide Appiah, former Executive Director of the National Population Council (NPC), is stepping forward with an important initiative aimed at transforming how the country educates its future leaders about the critical role of population management.
Dr. Appiah’s newly certified book, Human Resource to Human Capital: The Essence of Population Management, is more than just an academic resource. It’s a call to action—one that seeks to change how the country views its people, emphasising their potential as vital assets that need careful nurturing to drive the country’s progress. Having earned a spot as a certified textbook by the Copyright Office of Ghana, Dr. Appiah is now looking forward sharing the book’s vital lessons with the Ministry of Education and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA).
Dr. Appiah is calling for a meeting with Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, Education Minister-Designate, to discuss how her book can become a foundational tool within the educational system. She recognizes the power of education in shaping minds and believes that introducing population management concepts early on will help guide future generations toward healthier, more sustainable lives. In the same breath, she plans to reach out to NaCCA, the body that oversees curriculum approval in Ghana, to encourage their endorsement of the book as part of national training resources.

Her book takes a deep dive into Ghana’s demographic trends, particularly focusing on the pressing issues facing a population of 31 million people growing at an annual rate of 2.1%. Through careful and deliberate planning, Dr. Appiah believes the country can harness its growing population to build a better future. The book presents ideas on how investments in key areas such as education, healthcare, and employment can shift human resources into human capital—skilled workers who contribute to a thriving economy.
Ripple effect
But it doesn’t stop with just introducing the book to policymakers. Dr. Appiah sees a broader, collective effort at play. By opening up the conversation about the importance of population management, she hopes to empower teachers, students, and communities to take part in shaping a healthier, more prosperous society.
Her vision is not just to present facts but to encourage conversations about family planning, reproductive health, and community well-being. She advocates destigmatizing these subjects, allowing individuals and families to discuss population dynamics openly and responsibly. In doing so, she believes society will be better equipped to make informed choices and reduce the societal pressures that come with rapid and unchecked population growth.
Future investment
What Dr. Appiah is proposing isn’t just educational reform—it’s a roadmap to future prosperity. By equipping young people and their educators with the knowledge of how populations influence the economy and quality of life, Ghana can begin to shift the narrative from challenges to opportunities. Teachers and policymakers will be better informed, and communities will become more proactive in addressing issues like unemployment, healthcare, and education.

In her meeting with Minister Iddrisu, Dr. Appiah plans to discuss the role education can play in addressing these challenges, and how her book can serve as the starting point for a much-needed change in how the country manages its growing population. She’s hopeful that NaCCA will endorse this book and make it part of the national dialogue—so that students, teachers, and communities alike can benefit from its powerful insights.
Power of education
Dr. Appiah firmly believes that population management goes far beyond an abstract topic for academic discourse. It’s about real lives, real choices, and building a sustainable, healthy future for all. I quite remember when I interviewed her sometime ago, she told me that: “When we manage population growth thoughtfully, we can steer this nation toward its true potential”.
Her journey isn’t just about advancing a textbook—it’s about setting in motion a deeper understanding of population dynamics that can take root in classrooms, in homes, and in government offices. With this initiative, Dr. Appiah hopes to empower future leaders, policymakers, and everyday citizens to rethink population management as a critical tool for creating the Ghana they desire.
Dr. Appiah’s plan to engage with key leaders in the Ministry of Education and NaCCA represents the beginning of something powerful. Through this collaboration, she envisions an education system where population management becomes a key piece of the puzzle that helps chart Ghana’s future. And, I believe that, as she calls for greater awareness on population dynamics, she is leading the way toward a more informed, more prosperous, and more sustainable nation for all Ghanaians.
The author, Bright Philip Donkor, is News Editor of the Daily Statesman.