The national conversation on mining, one of Ghana’s most contentious issues, gained fresh momentum last week as students in the Bosomtwe District took centre stage to share their views on how the country can balance economic gains with environmental protection.
On Friday, August 8, 2025, eleven senior high schools in the district faced off in a debate competition organised by Nana Yaw Osei Adutwum Jnr, son of the Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe and former Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum.
The contest explored the motion: “Is Mining a Sustainable Pathway to Economic Development?”
Students delivered spirited arguments, weighing mining’s economic potential against its environmental, health, and social costs.
Many offered practical proposals for ensuring that Ghana benefits from mining without sacrificing its natural resources or community well-being.
Osei Adutwum Senior High School claimed the top spot, followed by Bosomtwe Girls’ Senior High School in second place and Tetrefu Senior High School in third.
Speaking after the event, Nana Yaw explained that the competition stemmed from a school project requiring him to write a 4,000-word paper on a global problem.
“I chose mining because it’s a key national issue and directly affects communities in my constituency,” he said. “I wanted to give students the chance to raise their voices and show that working together is more powerful than going it alone.”
He added that his research into illegal, small-scale, and large-scale mining had reinforced the importance of including young people’s perspectives particularly those from mining-affected areas in shaping sustainable solutions.
“Together, we can generate ideas that inspire change,” he noted.
Beyond the debate, Nana Yaw has been spearheading youth-focused initiatives in Bosomtwe, including football tournaments, educational workshops, and skills training programmes.
His efforts, he said, are aimed at empowering young people and equipping them to take part in national problem-solving.
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By blending education with public dialogue, he is helping to cultivate a generation of informed citizens ready to confront some of Ghana’s most complex challenges.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Isaac Justice Bediako
