The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has challenged geological engineering students at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to use their professional expertise to develop practical solutions to illegal mining and environmental destruction.He said the country’s future depended largely on the decisions and actions of the current generation, urging the students to take an active role in protecting Ghana’s natural resources.Speaking at a seminar organised by the Geological Engineering Students Society (GESS) on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Mr Armah-Kofi Buah said the time for engineers to join the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, was now.He called on the students to move beyond discussions and contribute their technical knowledge to efforts to address the environmental damage caused by irresponsible mining activities.“We in this generation have a responsibility,” he said, adding that the fight against illegal mining must involve students, particularly those whose training is directly connected to the country’s geological and mineral resources.Drawing on his experience in public service, particularly his oversight of Ghana’s oil and gas industry, the Minister said national development often required leaders to make difficult decisions despite resistance and practical challenges.He recalled the challenges associated with establishing the country’s gas infrastructure, including difficulties with land allocation and litigation, during a period when Ghana was struggling with persistent power outages and the need for reliable electricity.He said those obstacles did not deter the government from pursuing the establishment of the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant.According to him, the facility became an important intervention in reducing the cost of power generation.Using the experience to encourage the students, he said leadership required confronting problems and finding solutions rather than allowing difficulties to derail important projects.“When you face challenges, look for where the challenges are coming from and solve them,” he advised.Mr Armah-Kofi Buah also cited the introduction of a sliding-scale royalty regime in the mining sector as an example of difficult policy decisions intended to increase government revenue from mineral resources.He said such decisions were necessary to ensure that Ghana derived greater value from its natural wealth.He further disclosed that securing a US$7 million investment for KNUST’s Petroleum Engineering Department had required considerable effort, negotiations and persistence.Engineers urged to help tackle environmental destructionTurning to illegal mining, the Minister expressed concern about the destruction of forest reserves, air pollution and contamination of water bodies.He said the scale of environmental damage required sustained national attention, effective enforcement and the involvement of professionals with the technical knowledge to develop lasting solutions.He urged the students to apply their training to the challenges confronting the mining sector rather than remain on the sidelines.The Minister also pointed to reforms under the government’s new mining legislation, saying they were intended to strengthen the regulation and governance of mineral resources while ensuring that mining communities benefited more meaningfully from resource extraction.He said the reforms sought to address the longstanding concerns of communities that host mining operations.Advice on professional responsibilityMr Armah-Kofi Buah urged the students to remain focused on their goals, develop the courage to make difficult decisions and avoid being distracted by the desire to impress others.“Focus on decisions and never look back,” he advised.He said engineering knowledge and professional competence must be matched with responsible leadership and a commitment to