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

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

The proposed campus aims to broaden higher education access in Nzema and reinforce KNUST's role in the Western Region, especially in the oil and gas sector. It also seeks to honor Dr Nkrumah's role in Ghana's independence, industrialisation, and education.

The discussions were part of a broader initiative between KNUST and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to collaborate in research, technology, and managing the nation's natural resources. They discussed the potential use of AI to enhance efficiency, monitoring, and decision-making in this sector. Mining engineering was identified as a key area for cooperation, focusing on strengthening technical expertise, research, and professional training in Ghana's mining industry.

The partnership would also investigate the application of financial technology (FinTech) in monitoring and evaluating natural resource management. The talks covered monitoring forests, water bodies, and mineral extraction activities, especially in efforts to combat illegal mining, deforestation, and water body degradation.

Mr Armah-Kofi Buah noted that scientific research and technological innovation could bolster the Ministry's efforts to safeguard the country's natural resources, particularly as Ghana intensifies its efforts against illegal mining, deforestation, and water body destruction.

Professor Agyare emphasized that the proposed Ellembelle campus could act as a hub for academic growth, skill development, and research for Nzema and surrounding areas. He also highlighted the opportunity for young people in the Western Region to gain university education nearby.

The meeting involved Mr Armah-Kofi Buah, a former KNUST student and university ambassador, who visited to support the institution's engineering department through a donation of a FinTech laboratory. The proposed satellite campus and this collaboration are expected to link KNUST's academic and research prowess with national development goals, particularly in mining, environmental protection, and sustainable natural resource management.