By Benjamin Adamafio Commey, GNA
Accra, Oct. 6, GNA – Twenty-nine emerging leaders have completed the 2026 Liberty Sphere programme organised by the YAFO Institute to deepen their understanding of philosophy, free-market economics, public policy, entrepreneurship, research and community action.
The two-day residential programme, held on September 23 and 24, brought together emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, university students and journalists for 13 lecture sessions, each lasting approximately 90 minutes.
A statement issued by the YAFO Institute said the programme was designed to move participants beyond theoretical discussions by equipping them to examine issues of freedom, prosperity and public policy and apply those ideas to practical challenges in their communities.
It said the programme sought to create an intellectual environment where participants could “examine the ideas underlying free societies” while developing solutions to problems affecting their communities.
The curriculum covered philosophy, leadership, economics, public policy, entrepreneurship, research, advocacy and institutional sustainability.
The programme opened with “Understanding Objectivism: A Philosophy of Reason, Freedom, and Human Flourishing,” delivered by Mr Nathaniel Dwamena, President of the YAFO Institute.
Other sessions included “The Fundamentals of Public Policy: Principles, Institutions, and Liberty,” facilitated by Mr Ebenezer Tackie Oblie, Executive Director of the Institute for New Policy Thinking.
Prof. Enoch Opoku Antwi, Founder of the Enoch Servant Leadership Foundation and Dean at Academic City University, addressed leadership, purpose, entrepreneurship and nonprofit sustainability, while Dr Eamonn Butler of the Adam Smith Institute in the United Kingdom delivered a session on free-market economics.
The programme also examined competing approaches to economic and political organisation, including socialism, welfare policy, free enterprise and individual responsibility.
A major component focused on evidence-based policy engagement.
Dr Albert Kobina Mensah, Research Scientist at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Chief Executive Officer of the AK Centre for Research and Further Studies, led sessions on integrating qualitative and quantitative research into advocacy and on research, advocacy and policy reform in relation to galamsey.
The statement said the programme also addressed the practical challenge of moving from identifying public problems to implementing workable policy responses.
Beyond the residential programme, eight of the 13 lectures were streamed online, recording 249 views on YouTube and 901 views on Facebook.
The statement said the online component extended the programme’s reach and created a publicly accessible archive of selected sessions.
Participants were also divided into groups to develop proposals addressing community challenges. Their ideas were presented at the Battleground Policy Pitch Competition during the Liberty Sphere Dinner and Awards.
The Divine Economy Team emerged winner with its “Freedom to Enterprise (F2E Ghana)” proposal. The Jonathan Gullible Team was first runner-up with “The Waste Exchange,” while the John Galt Team placed second runner-up with the “Informal Worker Pension Access Partnership.”
The top three teams received cash prizes totalling GH¢6,000.
The statement said the competition was intended to bridge the gap between intellectual learning and practical problem-solving by requiring participants to communicate, defend and develop their ideas.
The YAFO Institute said it would track the participants’ continuing engagement, including research, community initiatives, advocacy, entrepreneurial activities and collaborations emerging from the Liberty Sphere network.
“The durability of Liberty Sphere will ultimately be reflected not simply in the number of people who attended or viewed its lectures, but in the knowledge applied, ideas developed, relationships sustained and initiatives undertaken by those who participated,” the statement said.
It said the institute’s immediate task was to “follow the ideas beyond the programme and document what they become.”
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade
6 Oct 2026
Reporter: Benjamin Adamafio Commey
Email: [email protected]