The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has charged members of the Geological Engineering Students Society (GESS) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to take the lead in the fight against illegal mining and environmental destruction with far-reaching professional solutions.

He explained that the future of Ghana's natural resources rests solely on the decisions and actions of the current generation.

Addressing the students at a seminar organized by the society on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, the Minister said the time for engineers to join the campaign against illegal mining is now or never.

The seminar offered the Minister an opportunity to deliver an engaging address in which he shared his experiences in public service, highlighting the difficult decisions he had made.

He said it took courage and determination to implement some of the most far-reaching policies and programmes required to transform critical sectors of the Ghanaian economy.

His address, which drew on his experience managing Ghana's oil and gas industry, power, and natural resources, offered the students valuable lessons on leadership, responsibility and national development.

Recalling his time overseeing the country's oil and gas industry as a Minister, Armah-Kofi Buah said the responsibility came with enormous challenges, particularly during the period of persistent power outages when Ghana was struggling to secure reliable and affordable electricity for its growing economy.

He recounted the difficult process of establishing the country's gas infrastructure and associated facilities, explaining that the journey was characterised by significant obstacles, including land allocation challenges and litigation.

However, he said neither the challenges nor the complications surrounding land acquisition discouraged him and the government from pursuing the national development agenda by establishing the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant.

The Minister disclosed that despite the difficulties, government successfully constructed the first gas processing plant, a major intervention that helped to reduce the cost of power generation in the country.

He used the experience to impress upon the students that leadership requires the courage to confront difficult situations rather than surrendering to obstacles. "When you face challenges, look for where the challenges are coming from and solve them," he advised.

Turning to developments in the mining sector, the Minister cited the introduction of the sliding-scale royalty regime as an example of difficult but necessary policy decisions aimed at improving government revenue from the country's mineral resources.

He explained that such reforms reflected government's determination to ensure that Ghana derived greater value from its natural wealth.

Emphasising the difficulty associated with major policy decisions, he remarked that "that is not a decision that is easy," stressing that decision-making and responsibility were indispensable qualities for anyone seeking to occupy leadership positions.

He further disclosed that securing a US$7 million investment for the Petroleum Engineering Department of KNUST did not come easily, underscoring the persistence, negotiations and commitment required to attract strategic investments into academic institutions.

On the persistent menace of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, the Minister called for responsibility, decisive action and effective enforcement as essential measures in addressing the environmental crisis.

He expressed concern about the destruction of forest reserves, worsening air pollution and the contamination of water bodies, warning that the situation required urgent and sustained national attention.

He challenged the students to move beyond discussions and become active participants in the campaign to protect Ghana's environment and natural resources.

"We in this generation have a responsibility," he declared, adding that the fight against illegal mining was one that must be led by students, particularly those pursuing courses directly connected to the country's geological and mineral resources.

The minister also highlighted government's commitment to changing the narrative of the mining sector through reforms under the new mining legislation.

Concluding his engagement, Armah-Kofi Buah urged them to develop the courage to make difficult decisions, remain focused on their objectives and resist the temptation to be distracted by the desire to impress others.

"Focus on decisions and never look back," he advised, adding that "the last thing you want to do is to want to impress anyone, or by trying to look around."

His message left the students with a strong reminder that engineering knowledge, professional competence and responsible leadership must combine to secure Ghana's sustainable development.

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