KNUST, Lands Ministry explore plans for satellite campus in Ellembelle to honour Nkrumah

The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is considering the establishment of a satellite campus in Ellembelle, Western Region, in honor of Ghana's first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. This proposal was discussed between KNUST's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Christian Agyare, and the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, during a visit to the university on November 3, 2026.

The proposed campus aims to broaden access to higher education in the Nzema area and bolster KNUST's presence in the Western Region, particularly within Ghana's oil and gas enclave. Furthermore, it seeks to honor Dr. Nkrumah's role in Ghana's independence, industrialization, and educational development.

The discussions also encompassed a wider collaboration between KNUST and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, focusing on research, technology, and natural resources management. Both entities explored the application of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance efficiency, monitoring, and decision-making in the natural resources sector.

Mining engineering was identified as a key area for cooperation, with both institutions aiming to enhance technical expertise, research, and professional training to tackle challenges in Ghana's mining industry.

The partnership would also delve into the utilization of financial technology (FinTech) in monitoring and evaluating natural resource management, as well as monitoring forests, water bodies, and mineral extraction activities, especially in the context of combating illegal mining, deforestation, and water body degradation. Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah emphasized the importance of scientific research and technological innovation in safeguarding the country's natural resources, particularly amid ongoing efforts to protect the environment from illegal mining, deforestation, and the destruction of crucial water resources.

Professor Agyare expressed that the proposed Ellembelle campus could function as a hub for academic growth, skill acquisition, and research in the Nzema area and adjacent communities. He also highlighted the potential for young people in the Western Region to receive university education closer to home. The engagement with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources involved Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah, a former KNUST student and KNUST's ambassador, who visited as part of efforts to bolster the university's engineering department through a donation of a FinTech laboratory.

The proposed satellite campus and the broader collaboration are anticipated to align KNUST's academic and research capabilities with national development priorities, especially in mining, environmental protection, and sustainable natural resource management.