Global mining icon Sam Esson Jonah has cautioned students that careless communication can ruin careers and institutions, urging them to treat words as powerful tools that shape their futures. 

Speaking at a Fireside Chat organised by the School of Communication Studies of Wisconsin International University College, Ghana (WIUC–Ghana) in Accra. Mr Jonah stressed that leadership without respectful communication is destined to fail. 

“Communication is not just a PR problem; it can make or break classrooms, boardrooms, and lives. Words shape worlds, so use them wisely,” he said, citing the downfall of a CEO who lost everything in one day after verbally abusing staff. 

He further advised students to design their futures with intention and embrace self-discipline, noting that their toughest competition lay not in other universities but within themselves, against laziness, fear of failure, and self-doubt. 

“Win that battle, and you win the world,” he declared. 

Mr Jonah, celebrated for transforming Ashanti Goldfields into a global mining powerhouse and serving as Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, also reflected on his humble beginnings in Obuasi, where he pursued mining engineering after his early education. 

He reminded students that poor choices made today could become regrets tomorrow. 

Dean of the School of Communication Baaba Coffie described the event as more than a seminar, calling it a rare opportunity to engage with a leader whose journey exemplified resilience and vision. 

President of WIUC–Ghana, Dr Lawrence Kannae, hailed the encounter as a “powerful seminar” that would leave students with lasting lessons.