The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has officially handed over mining operating permits to the Anwia and Teleku Bokazo Responsible Cooperative Mining Society Ltd in the Ellembelle Municipality, marking the formal rollout of the Responsible Co-operative Mining and Skills Development Programme.

The two communities, whose residents are predominantly engaged in farming and small-scale mining, are the first beneficiaries of the initiative.

The permits grant the cooperative access to mine on an abandoned concession relinquished by Adamus Mining Limited to the Government of Ghana, a site believed to contain significant mineral deposits.

The development follows a series of negotiations led by the Minister with Adamus Mining Limited to release the concession for community-based mining.

The Responsible Co-operative Mining and Skills Development Programme, a flagship initiative spearheaded by the Minister, forms part of the government’s broader efforts to combat illegal mining while promoting responsible and sustainable mining practices.

According to the sector Minister, the programme is designed to eliminate harmful mining methods, particularly the use of mercury, which poses serious environmental and public health risks.

He explained that miners operating under the initiative will undergo comprehensive training in responsible mining techniques.

In addition, the cooperatives will receive support in the form of modern mineral processing technologies and water treatment systems aimed at significantly reducing pollution and environmental degradation.

“The cooperatives will be guided by strict rules and regulations,” the Minister stated. “One of the major challenges miners face is access to water for processing.

Under this programme, we are introducing modern technologies that allow miners to extract minerals efficiently and in high volumes without the use of mercury.”

Mr. Buah emphasised that the initiative will not only improve mining practices but also protect the environment, safeguard water bodies, and enhance livelihoods in mining communities.

The Chief Executive Officer of rCOMSDEP, Ing. Frank Asare Pedro, urged members of the cooperatives to remain law-abiding and strictly adhere to responsible mining practices.

“Government is not against mining; it is against irresponsible mining,” he noted.

“One of the most effective ways to curb illegal mining is to regularise the sector through licensing.

This enables regulatory bodies such as the Minerals Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Water Resources Commission to effectively supervise operations and ensure compliance with the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).”

He added that rCOMSDEP would work closely with the relevant regulatory agencies to ensure the cooperatives fully implement the best practices they have been trained to adopt.

The Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, also expressed concern about the widespread destruction of water bodies and forest reserves caused by illegal mining activities.

He cautioned illegal miners to desist from destructive practices and encouraged them to enrol under the Responsible Co-operative Mining initiative, warning that the law would soon catch up with those who refuse to comply.

With Anwia and Teleku Bokazo setting the pace, the Ministry plans to roll out the programme to other mining communities across the region and beyond, leveraging the Anwia–Teleku Bokazo Responsible Cooperative Mining Society as a model for responsible and sustainable mining in Ghana.