Ghana has once again demonstrated the strength and potential of its youth on the global stage as a co-founder of Databloom Africa, Henry Kweku Duah earned dual recognition at the Global Goals Summit held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Global Goals Summit is an international platform convened by Studec International and supported by YouthNow, bringing together outstanding young leaders, professionals, academics, and policymakers from across the world to advance dialogue and action on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The summit focuses on leadership development, innovation, policy solutions, and community-driven approaches to sustainable development.

The 2026 edition of the summit was held under the theme “Building Resilient Pathways to Sustainable Development.” Activities officially commenced with an intensive virtual engagement phase from 16th to 19th January 2026, featuring high-level sessions facilitated by seasoned professionals, global development practitioners, and university professors.

These online engagements explored SDG frameworks, youth leadership, global cooperation, and practical strategies for sustainable impact.

The in-person component of the summit began on 22nd January 2026 at the prestigious Royal Chulan Hotel, and concluded on 24th January 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, bringing together delegates from numerous countries for policy discussions, leadership workshops, cultural exchange, and competitive presentations.

Representing Ghana as the sole Ghanaian delegate, Henry Kweku Duah advocated strongly for SDG 4 – Quality Education during the summit’s Speak-Up competition. His presentation highlighted the urgent need for inclusive, practical, and future-ready education systems, particularly for young people in Africa.

This advocacy reflected his ongoing work as a co-founder of Databloom Africa (www.Databloomafrica.org), a youth-led initiative dedicated to advancing quality education through data literacy, digital skills training, and capacity-building programmes for young people across the continent.

Through Databloom Africa, Mr. Duah has contributed to addressing educational gaps by equipping young people with relevant, employable skills and fostering learning pathways aligned with sustainable development.

Drawing from this practical experience, his Speak-Up presentation demonstrated how community-based educational initiatives can accelerate progress toward SDG 4 while empowering youth as active contributors to national and global development. Following this presentation, Mr. Duah was selected among the six overall speakers of the entire summit, a distinction awarded to participants who demonstrated exceptional clarity, relevance, and leadership in advancing the SDGs.

In addition to his individual recognition, he also participated in a group presentation that emerged as the overall winning team of the summit. As a result of these combined achievements, Team Ghana became the only delegation among the 80 selected participants worldwide to receive two medals, marking a significant milestone for Ghana’s representation at the event.

After eight days of intensive engagement—spanning both virtual and in-person sessions—delegates were formally inducted as SDG Youth Action Ambassadors, tasked with championing the Sustainable Development Goals in their respective countries and communities.

The summit concluded with a strong emphasis on service and social impact. Delegates participated in volunteer activities in Kuala Lumpur, including a visit to an education centre serving refugee communities, reinforcing the summit’s commitment to inclusive and people-centred development.

Following the summit, Mr. Duah paid a courtesy visit to the High Commission of Ghana to Malaysia, where he was received by  Florence B. Akonor, Ghana’s High Commissioner to Malaysia. During the visit, he formally briefed the Mission on Ghana’s participation and donated one of the medals earned to the High Commission as a permanent symbol of national honour and representation.

The donation serves as a record of Ghanaian youth contributions to global SDG discourse and reflects the growing role of young Ghanaians in international diplomacy, leadership, and development advocacy.

Henry Kweku Duah’s dual recognition at the Global Goals Summit 2026 underscores Ghana’s capacity to contribute meaningfully to global conversations on sustainable development and highlights the importance of investing in youth leadership—particularly in education—as a driver of national and international progress.