A statesman and former CEO of mining giant, Anglogold Ashanti, Sir Sam Jonah, says the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, will suffer setbacks until the chronic problem of the lack of opportunities and jobs for the youth is addressed.
“The economy is not creating enough jobs, and there is little opportunity for our youth. Unless we work hard to make sure that this economy is creating jobs, I am afraid we will lose this fight,” he said.
Sir Sam was speaking at an engagement with students of the Wisconsin University College in Accra last Wednesday.
Organised by the School of Communication Studies of the college, the engagement known as the Fireside Chat, provides a platform for distinguished personalities to share their experiences with students and also encourage them as they transition from academia to their chosen careers and aspirations.
Community engagement
Sir Sam also attributed the difficulty in dealing with the menace to the lack of involvement of mining communities in decision-making and the enforcement of mining laws.
He said the country had adequate and extensive laws on mining and how to deal with its environmental impact, but what was needed was the implementation of the laws through community engagement.
“The laws are clear. Once you dig up, you have to fill it up. Don’t mine certain distances to the river, don’t mine in forest reserves.
The laws are there, so it’s not that we need more laws.
What we need is enforcement.
“We can only enforce when we localise the fight and involve traditional leaders and community members,” he added.
He stressed that if traditional leaders and community members were involved in the entire decision-making regarding the grant of mining licences, it would be easier for them to help law enforcement agencies and officials to apprehend the unscrupulous people destroying the environment.
Galamsey fight
Illegal mining has been a topical issue for many years due to its devastating effect on forests, water bodies, negative implications on national security and the overall well-being of the country.
In recent times, there has been immense pressure on the government to declare a state of emergency on galamsey and take drastic measures that could deal with the menace.
However, during his maiden engagement with the media on September 10, this year, President John Dramani Mahama said he was reluctant at the moment to declare a state of emergency on illegal mining, asserting that existing tools provided enough powers to combat the canker.
“I have been reluctant to implement a state of emergency because we have not exhausted all the powers we have,” the President said.
However, the stance by the President received a backlash, with Influential groups such as the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC), the National Catholic Laity Council (NCLC) and the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey (GCAG) describing the delay to declare a state of emergency as a betrayal of the fight against an existential threat to the country.
The GCBC, in a statement, said it was baffled by the President’s reluctance to declare a state of emergency when all signs showed that galamsey was not only an ecological problem, but also a “cancer in our national soul” which had become one of the greatest threats to national security and the country’s survival.
Recently, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, announced that the government would soon declare all forest reserves and water bodies in the country as national security zones as part of efforts to combat illegal mining.
Advice
In his advice to the students, the statesman said it was essential for the youth to take advantage of the opportunities associated with the current technological boom to educate themselves, build their careers and make meaningful contributions to society.
He bemoaned the trend of people using social media and other forms of technology to create unhealthy discourse and engage in irrelevant activities detrimental to their growth.
“We must be mindful of how we use technology. Using TikTok and other social media platforms to be wriggling your waist and dancing instead of using them to advance yourself will not be beneficial,” he said.
He further advised the youth to be unique in their own ways and not follow the general path.
Using himself as an example, he said he decided to learn mining engineering because he realised that it was not a career path favoured by many people at the time.
“You have to choose the line that will make you different. Ask yourself how you can be different from others,” he said.
The President of Wisconsin University College, Dr Lawrence Kannae, described Sir Sam as a global figure and a role model that the youth and everyone could look up to for inspiration and guidance.
Attached below is a copy of the full speech by Sir Sam Jonah
Speech By Sir Sam Jonah
Good day… students of Wisconsin University.
It is both an honor and a privilege to stand before you today.
I was born at the tail end of the Baby Boomer generation… four generations ago. That sounds like a long time, doesn’t it?
And yet it feels like yesterday.
Time is swift. One day, you are a student. The next you are a leader, a mentor, a changemaker. Today, I stand here in that role. Tomorrow that mantle will rest upon you.
The Future Is Now
My own journey from a small mining town in Obuasi, to studying Mining Engineering, to becoming Executive President of AngloGold Ashanti taught me a profound truth: The future… is now.
Every day you live is the tomorrow you dreamt about yesterday. If today does not please you, perhaps it is because yesterday’s choices were careless. But here lies the beauty of life: every sunrise brings you a fresh canvas on which to paint a better tomorrow.
So I say to you do not drift into the future. Design it. Beyond These Walls Here at Wisconsin University, you enjoy the privilege of learning, the gift of opportunity, the comfort of belonging. But do not let these walls define you. Do not let them confine your imagination.
Your competition is not just the person sitting beside you. It is not limited to Ghana’s 69 universities. It extends across Africa’s 1,274 institutions… and into a world of over 32,000 universities.
Daunting? Of course. But here is the truth: The fiercest competition… is not out there.
It is within you.
It is the fight to conquer laziness.
The struggle to silence self-doubt.
The battle to overcome fear of failure.
And when you win that inner contest trust me you will outpace the world.
Excellence does not check your passport.
It does not care for your background.
It answers only to discipline, persistence, and vision.
Communication: The Bridge to Leadership
Since many of you are students of communication studies, let me pause
here.
Communication is not a side skill it is the lifeblood of leadership. It is the
bridge between vision and reality.
A brilliant idea poorly communicated is no better than no idea at all. A company strategy muddled in jargon can sink shareholder confidence.
A careless remark from a CEO can wipe billions off stock value overnight.
Think of BP’s oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The tragedy was bad enough. But the CEO’s infamous words “I’d like my life back” turned anger into outrage, damaging trust beyond repair.
Or consider Boeing’s communication failures around the 737 MAX crashes. Technical issues were tragic, but the lack of openness and clarity cost the company its reputation and billions of dollars.
You see, miscommunication is not just a public relations problem. It can be catastrophic.
In your careers, whether in boardrooms, classrooms, clinics, or communities, remember this: words shape worlds. Use them wisely.
Brighten the Corner Where You Are Permit me to share something personal.
I grew up in Obuasi. I studied Mining Engineering. And I returned to the very mines of my hometown.
I did not dream of being “the next someone.”
Instead, I focused on brightening the small corner where I was planted.
And here is the irony of life: when you commit to shining brightly where you are the world cannot help but notice.
That simple focus carried me to boardrooms across continents. It led me to lead one of the world’s great mining companies. It opened doors I never even knew existed.
Friends, success does not begin with chasing the world. It begins with cultivating your corner and yes, learning how to communicate your value to others.
Look at Japan. At Singapore. At China. At Qatar. They each built greatness on their unique strengths. They did not mimic
others. They forged original paths.
Africa must learn this lesson. And so must you communicate Africa’s story with authenticity, not as an imitation of others.
Tools of Your Time
When I was your age, there was no internet. Information was scarce, and knowledge traveled slowly.
Today Google is a tap away.
Artificial Intelligence is rewriting how we work and think. LinkedIn can land you a job across oceans.
You can work remotely from Accra and be paid in dollars or yen. This is extraordinary. Truly extraordinary.
But beware: no algorithm, no machine, no AI can replace your own creativity, your own intelligence, your own grit.
And above all no technology can replace authentic human communication.
Technology is a tool. Use it as wind in your sails—but never as the captain of your ship.
Anchoring Values
As you step boldly into tomorrow, let your compass be guided by three values: honesty, respect, and resilience.
• Honesty: It builds trust. It anchors self-respect. Without it, success is a mirage.
• Respect: The Ewe say, “Respect guides you so you don’t stumble.” Treat every person with dignity, because greatness is
never achieved alone. Remember the Ashanti wisdom: “If you want to go far, go together.”
• Resilience: Your shield in times of trial. The Ga say, “A tree does not stand tall in one day.” The Bono remind us, “The palm tree bends but does not break.”
Obstacles will come. They must come. But persistence turns setbacks into stepping stones.
Draw inspiration from others but carve your own path. The Asante say, “When you follow your father’s path, you learn to walk like him.”
Legacy: The Power of Impact Over Titles Now let us go deeper. Let us speak of legacy.
Too often, we think legacy is wealth, or titles, or property. But history disagrees.
When we remember Kwame Nkrumah, it is not his presidential title we recall. It is his vision for independence and Pan-Africanism.
When we think of Nelson Mandela, it is not the office he held—but the reconciliation he achieved.
When we mention Wangari Maathai, it is not her degrees but the forests she saved and the women she empowered.
Legacy is not what you leave to people.
Legacy is what you leave in people.
So, I challenge you: do not chase titles. Chase significance.
A leader’s worth is not their CV. It is measured by the wrongs they right, the ideas they advance, the lives they touch, the burdens they lift—and yes, by how they communicate vision with clarity.
Redefining Success
And so, students, I ask you: What is success to your generation?
Is it the number of likes on Instagram?
Is it fleeting trends and ostentation?
Or will you define success by the values you uphold… the communities you strengthen… the lives you transform?
Money is important. It cushions hardship. Education is vital. It broadens your horizon. But they are not the end of the story.
They are tools to innovate, to lead, to transform.
So yes, earn money. Yes, seek education. But above all… leave an impact and communicate that impact with truth and humility.
Closing Reflections
Today, as we gather here—this modern equivalent of our ancestors’ fireside conversations beneath the baobab tree—let us remember this truth:
The future is not something you wait for. The future is something you design.
Design it with passion.
Build it with integrity.
Defend it with resilience.
And commit commit always to excellence.
And when history remembers your generation may it not recall your
titles, your possessions, or your certificates.
May it remember the lives you touched… the communities you
strengthened… the legacy you left behind.
Thank you… for your kind attention.
I now welcome your questions and your reflections.
