Kumasi, Ghana – By Evans Osei-Bonsu
The Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) has officially launched its ‘Resource Governance Campus Hub’ at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), deepening its efforts to cultivate youth leadership in Ghana’s extractive governance space. The launch marks the second in a series, following a successful debut at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR).
Held at the E.O. Asare Auditorium of the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, the event brought together students, academics, and governance advocates in a multi-layered programme that included a symbolic campus rally, expert panel sessions, and student-led discussions. The aim is to equip students with knowledge and tools to engage meaningfully in conversations around natural resource management, transparency, and accountability.
Delivering the keynote, Maybel Acquaye, ACEP’s Head of Monitoring and Evaluation and Senior Policy Analyst, emphasized that the initiative was designed to shift the governance conversation from elite spaces into the hands of the next generation.
“This is a youth-led push for transparent and accountable governance,” she said. “We are here to inform and empower students on how Ghana’s resources are managed and to build critical minds who are passionate about Ghana and committed to holding leadership accountable.”
She added that the Hub would serve as a platform not only for knowledge-sharing but also for building civic consciousness around how resource revenues are used, particularly in resource-rich yet underdeveloped regions.
In his address, Professor Emmanuel Acheampong, Dean of the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, called on students to lead a new wave of governance that is rooted in science, fairness, and public interest. He highlighted the paradox of Ghana’s wealth in natural resources and the persistent underdevelopment of the communities that host them.
“Ghana is a blessed nation, yet burdened,” he remarked. “We sit on gold, timber, oil and gas, and yet the very communities that produce this wealth continue to lack basic infrastructure. Corruption has found space in our resource management system, and transparency remains a challenge.”
He further encouraged the students to apply their scientific and technical training to influence public policy and promote responsible, inclusive use of national resources.
“You are in a unique position to lead Ghana into a new era of equitable and sustainable development. You must bridge the gap between science and policy, and ensure that our country’s wealth benefits all—not just a few.”
The Campus Hub, according to ACEP, will remain an active platform on the KNUST campus, offering students access to mentorship, governance tools, and training on extractive sector policy. It also aims to stimulate interest in research, data analysis, and civic monitoring related to Ghana’s oil, gas, and mineral wealth.
Students who participated in the event expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity to contribute to national conversations on resource governance. Many described the Hub as a timely initiative that empowers young people to move from passive observers to active stakeholders in shaping Ghana’s future.
The event ended with calls for sustained collaboration between academia, civil society, and policymakers to build a culture of integrity and accountability in Ghana’s extractive industries—starting with the youth.
