The University of Education, Winneba (UEW) hosted its Fourth Annual Colloquium on 2 September 2026, drawing scholars, traditional leaders and students to debate Ghana’s environmental challenges and governance failures.
Organised by the Department of Political Science Education, the event carried the theme “Politics, the Environment, and Our Future: Ghana at Crossroads?” and featured former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Prof. Kwabena Frimpong‑Boateng and Akyem Essase Chief Baffour K.S. Sikabede as keynote speakers.
Prof. Frimpong‑Boateng blamed corruption and a lack of technological capacity for Ghana’s environmental mismanagement, stating, “The poverty gap is a technology gap. And our inability to manage our own environment has two engines, not one: corruption and the absence of technological capacity.” He urged that science and technology be woven into national development plans rather than treated as an afterthought.
Chief Sikabede called on the government to recognise traditional authorities as partners in environmental protection, urging state agencies to consult and resource chiefs before granting mining concessions on stool lands. He vowed that no illegal mining would occur on Akyem Essase lands during his reign and stressed that existing environmental laws must be enforced equally against all actors.
The colloquium provided a platform for participants to examine the link between political decision‑making, technological advancement and environmental sustainability as Ghana grapples with forest loss, farmland degradation and water pollution.
Going forward, stakeholders will need to address the dual engines of corruption and technological deficiency to safeguard Ghana’s natural resources.
