Co-operative mining not galamsey, it is responsible mining pathway - Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has defended the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), stating that the initiative is designed to promote responsible mining practices and not encourage illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

Responding to concerns that cooperative mining could become another avenue for illegal mining, Mr Buah said government was introducing rCOMSDEP as part of efforts to provide structured alternatives for thousands of Ghanaians engaged in mining activities.

He noted that more than three million Ghanaians are involved in mining across several regions, making it necessary to create a system that supports responsible and sustainable participation in the sector.

“Cooperative mining is critical; it is a no-brainer. We have a problem. Over three million Ghanaians are engaged in this activity across six regions, and in fact, the number could be even higher,” he said.

The Minister explained that rCOMSDEP forms part of government’s broader strategy to address illegal mining through five key areas, including engagement, education, collaboration with stakeholders, reforms at the Minerals Commission and changes to mining regulations.

He said the programme would focus on training young people who want to engage in mining on environmentally responsible practices, including protecting forests, safeguarding water bodies and reclaiming degraded lands.

“The first step is training and education — helping people understand what responsible mining entails. You do not mine by destroying our forests or polluting our water bodies. There is a responsible way to mine,” Mr Buah stated.

He added that government was working towards training 9,000 young people under the programme, with community ownership and the involvement of traditional authorities expected to play a key role in its implementation.

According to the Minister, communities must be actively involved in the process to ensure that mining activities are properly managed and aligned with environmental protection standards.

Mr Buah maintained that rCOMSDEP is intended to compliment government’s other interventions in the fight against illegal mining by creating a pathway for responsible small-scale mining and equipping young people with the necessary skills to participate sustainably in the sector.