The Ghanaian government has launched the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), a comprehensive initiative aimed at transforming the artisanal and small-scale mining sector.
According to Mr Frank Asare,National coordinator for rCOMSDEP, the program seeks to promote environmentally responsible mining practices, provide vocational training, and restore lands degraded by illegal mining activities.
Key Objectives:
– Environmentally Responsible Mining: Promote cooperative mining practices that adhere to strict environmental guidelines, eliminating the use of mercury in gold extraction.
– Skills Development: Provide vocational, technical, agricultural, digital, and entrepreneurial training to youth and women, equipping them with relevant skills for alternative employment and self-employment.
– Environmental Rehabilitation: Restore lands degraded by illegal mining for productive use in agriculture, forestry, and other income-generating activities.
Program Pillars:
– Cooperative Mining Scheme: Establishes community-owned mining enterprises with mercury-free processing for responsible extraction and local economic growth.
– Mine Support Services: Provides equipment leasing, geological surveys, safety training, and compliance support to improve cooperative mining operations.
– Vocational Training & Entrepreneurship: Offers skills training in vocational, technical, agricultural, digital, and entrepreneurship, prioritizing women and youth empowerment.
– Environmental Rehabilitation: Restores mined lands through reclamation and reforestation, creating green jobs and reviving ecosystems.
– Agricultural Value Chain Development: Promotes farming cooperatives and agro-processing in mining areas to diversify economies and enhance food security.
– Community Infrastructure Development: Improves social amenities such as water, healthcare, education, and renewable energy in mining communities .
The program will be implemented in phases, with the first phase focusing on blocked-out areas selected by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. The rCOMSDEP secretariat will facilitate the acquisition of necessary licenses, permits, and authorizations from relevant regulatory bodies. The program is expected to generate sustainable employment opportunities, elevate living standards in mining communities, enhance worker safety, and implement environmentally responsible mining practices.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is calling on all stakeholders, including traditional leaders, youth groups, civil society organizations, and private sector partners, to support the implementation of rCOMSDEP.
By working together, Ghana can transform its artisanal and small-scale mining sector into a sustainable and responsible industry that benefits both the environment and local communities.
Source:Ayisah Foster|| The Punch Newspaper
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