Prominent businessman and the Chancellor of Cape Coast University, Sir Sam Jonah, has presented a candid assessment of the world's current state while urging the new graduates to engage actively in creating a better future.

In a stirring speech delivered at Morgan State University's graduation ceremony on Saturday, May 18, he spoke on the theme "Global Challenges, & The Way Forward."

"Through no fault of yours, a different world with various, and evolving, challenges awaits you," Sam Jonah began, acknowledging the complex global landscape awaiting the graduates.

He expressed regret for the myriad problems left by previous generations, including wars, famine, disease, and discrimination.

"I am not afraid to say in candour and humility that my generation has not been kind to you," he admitted.

Jonah highlighted the ongoing conflict in Gaza as a stark illustration of the dire consequences of prolonged hostilities and the urgent need for decisive leadership.

"We pray that there will be a redoubling of efforts to resolve the present conflict in Gaza and to find a long-term solution to the Israel-Palestinian problem," he stated, emphasising the global implications of such conflicts.

Drawing on historical parallels, Jonah noted the significant role of student activism in shaping history.

He referenced the contributions of student activists in the emancipation of women and African Americans and their impact on ending the Vietnam War.

"What we are, therefore, witnessing today is not unusual in the context of the historical role students have played in the quest for a just and fairer world," he remarked, encouraging students to continue this legacy.

Despite the challenges, Jonah expressed confidence in the graduates' ability to overcome obstacles.

"I am of the firm belief that the education you have received on this campus has equipped you to surmount any obstacles," he assured them.

Jonah urged the graduates to participate actively in political processes, quoting Plato: "The price of apathy in public affairs is to be ruled by evil men."

He called on them to become the ethical and visionary leaders the world desperately needs.

"Your education and the values you have learned here at Morgan State University make you ideal candidates to be the ethical and visionary leaders the world so desperately needs," he asserted.

Referencing President Barack Obama's words, "We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change we seek," Sam Jonah inspired the graduates to be the changemakers the world needs.

He envisioned a future marked by justice, fairness, and integrity, and urged them to strive for a more humane and equitable world.

Sam Jonah also touched on the enduring impact of racial discrimination and colonialism, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

He invoked the wisdom of Dr Kwegyir Aggrey and Reverend Dr Martin Luther King Jr., calling for a society where individuals are judged by their character, not their skin colour.

"Class of 2024, the world is looking up to you to change the narrative," Sam Jonah proclaimed, encouraging the graduates to continue the progress made by their forebears.

He concluded with a call for solidarity and mutual support, emphasising the importance of helping one another.

In closing, he cited Thurgood Marshall and the Zulu concept of Ubuntu, reminding the graduates that they do not journey alone: "A person is a person because of other people."

Sam Jonah reminded the graduates that their collective effort is required to navigate and improve the complex world they are inheriting.