The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has urged beneficiaries of the Responsible Small-Scale Cooperative Mining and Development Programme (RSCOMDEP) to comply strictly with Ghana’s mining laws and protect the environment to distinguish themselves from illegal miners.
Speaking at the launch of RSCOMDEP in Nkroful, the minister said the initiative aims to promote responsible small-scale mining, curb illegal mining (galamsey), and create sustainable employment opportunities for local communities.
He explained that the success of the programme would depend on whether participating mining cooperatives could operate legally without destroying agricultural lands, polluting rivers, or threatening the livelihoods and health of communities.
Mr Armah-Kofi Buah said the government had spent more than 18 months preparing the initiative to ensure that the necessary regulatory frameworks, training, and operational arrangements were in place.
He added that the programme would equip miners with the skills and capacity needed to conduct mining activities responsibly while contributing to Ghana’s economic development.
The minister highlighted the environmental impact of illegal mining, citing the destruction of approximately 8,900 hectares of land and pollution affecting an estimated 60 per cent of Ghana’s rivers. He said the government was combining stakeholder engagement, public education, mining-sector reforms, and law enforcement to tackle galamsey.
At the launch, five mining cooperatives received licences to begin operations under RSCOMDEP. The licences are valid for six months and may be renewed subject to compliance with the programme’s requirements.
The government expects the cooperatives to demonstrate that regulated small-scale mining can provide a viable alternative to illegal mining while protecting water bodies, restoring degraded lands, and safeguarding public health.
The performance of the participating groups will be crucial in determining whether the initiative can establish a more accountable and environmentally sustainable small-scale mining industry in Ghana.
Source: newsthemegh.com