The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has urged the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST), to develop affordable technologies to monitor mining activities and help address environmental threats.
“How do we get KNUST researchers and engineering students to come up with innovations using modern technology for tracking, for us to be able to take quick action?” he asked, encouraging the University to explore practical research solutions to support environmental protection.
He made the call during a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Christian Agyare. The Minister was at KNUST to commission a FinTech Venture Studio at the University’s Innovation Centre.
Established with the Minister’s support, the studio aims to strengthen links between university research, entrepreneurship and industry.
Explaining his support, the Minister said the initiative reflected the need to make university research more relevant to society.
“The FinTech Venture is a very critical part of the innovation centre. I think that when I heard of it, I thought it was so important. It adds exactly to what KNUST is about. How do we link research to entrepreneurs in the market?” he said. “And how do we make it more close to the people including its value. And this makes the things that we do in this university relevant to the ordinary Ghanaian and that’s why we supported it.”
Mr. Buah highlighted the need for research institutions to provide technical solutions to challenges in the mining sector, including the destruction of forest reserves and pollution of water bodies.
He identified responsible cooperative mining as another area for possible collaboration. The initiative seeks to organise small-scale miners into cooperatives and provide technical support from professionals, including geologists, environmentalists, safety experts and water specialists.
“More than 10,000 miners had received training in responsible mining practices, with plans to establish up to 70 cooperatives by the end of the year,” he said.
KNUST could contribute by training the technical personnel needed to support the initiative, he said, while creating opportunities for students and graduates to apply their expertise to challenges in the mining industry.
“I believe collaboration with these universities is something that is needed,” Mr. Buah said.
The Minister also expressed interest in KNUST establishing a satellite campus in the hometown of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, describing it as an opportunity to honour his legacy.
“It would be such a great honour to have a satellite university, right where the one this university was named after comes from,” he said. “There is no institution of higher learning strategically there. So, this one, I will take it on.”
The Vice-Chancellor thanked the Minister on behalf of the University for his longstanding support, acknowledging his contributions across several areas, including initiatives outside his ministerial portfolio.
Professor Agyare welcomed the proposed collaboration and reaffirmed the University’s readiness to apply its multidisciplinary research expertise to national development challenges.
“The University would work with relevant academic departments and research teams to prepare proposals for consideration by the Ministry's technical team. I think is an opportunity for us to engage,” Professor Agyare said.
He emphasised the need for research findings to move beyond academic publications and deliver practical benefits to society.
“Research is supposed to impact on the lives of the people,” he added.
He identified environmental sustainability, pollution monitoring, responsible mining and the development of appropriate technologies as areas where the University could contribute.
Professor Agyare also proposed a platform for the University and the Ministry to showcase the outcomes of their collaboration and demonstrate the contribution of research to national development.
“I think we need to make sure that we let the Ghanaian community know what we've been doing and the relevance of the University,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar, Mr. Benjamin Boampong Owusu, assured the Minister that they would hold further discussions with management and relevant stakeholders on his request for a satellite campus in the hometown of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
Professor Francis Kemausuor, who led the delegation on behalf of the Provost of the College of Engineering, said the Minister’s visit also included an engagement with the Geological Engineering Student Society.
Story: Abigail Ofori
