Ghana Rallies Future Leaders to Defend the Environment
Ghana has renewed its call for a united national front against illegal mining, with a strong emphasis on the role of the legal profession and the next generation of leaders in safeguarding the country’s natural resources.
Speaking at the Chief Justice’s Mentorship Programme, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and Acting Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (MP), urged judges, lawyers, and students to see environmental protection as both a legal duty and a moral obligation. His address framed the fight against illegal mining not only as an environmental issue, but as a matter of justice, intergenerational equity, and national survival.
The Minister drew a stark contrast between Ghana’s rich natural endowment, once defined by dense forests, productive farmlands, and clean rivers—and the current reality in many mining-affected areas. He described landscapes disfigured by illegal mining activities, warning that the destruction has deprived communities of safe water, threatened livelihoods, and undermined the future prospects of children.
Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah stressed that the consequences of illegal mining extend beyond environmental degradation to public health risks, social instability, and the erosion of the rule of law. He challenged members of the judiciary and legal fraternity to apply environmental laws firmly and consistently, noting that effective enforcement is critical to deterring environmental crimes.
Addressing the students and young mentees present, the Minister called on them to embrace environmental stewardship as part of their professional and civic identity. He encouraged them to view the protection of land and natural resources as a legacy issue—one that will define the quality of life and economic opportunities available to future generations.
The engagement formed part of broader efforts by government to strengthen collaboration between policymakers, the judiciary, and civil society in tackling illegal mining. By anchoring the discussion within a mentorship programme, the event underscored the importance of grooming ethically grounded leaders who understand the link between law, land governance, and sustainable development.
The Minister concluded by reaffirming government’s commitment to intensifying the fight against illegal mining, while calling on all sectors, particularly the legal community to play an active role in defending Ghana’s environment and preserving it for generations yet to come.
