The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has engaged the YEMAYA Science Project consortium, comprising TU Bergakademie Freiberg of Germany, the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) and the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD), Somanya, to explore areas of collaboration towards promoting responsible and sustainable artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) in Ghana.
The engagement formed part of a visit facilitated by the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Ghana (AHK Ghana) under the Market Entry Programme.
The discussions focused on opportunities for technical cooperation, skills development, technology transfer, environmental monitoring and sustainable practices to support the transformation and formalisation of Ghana’s artisanal and small-scale mining sector.
The engagement is particularly significant as Ghana continues to pursue measures aimed at making small-scale mining more responsible, environmentally sustainable and economically beneficial to mining communities and the wider economy.
Areas of cooperation
During the meeting, representatives of the YEMAYA Science Project outlined areas where their technical expertise, research capabilities and mining technologies could complement GoldBod’s efforts to promote responsible mining practices.
Among the areas identified for potential cooperation were youth skills development, technical and vocational training, environmental monitoring, responsible sourcing, traceability and the restoration of landscapes affected by mining activities.
The participants also discussed the need to equip young people with specialised technical skills that could enable them to establish and operate businesses providing services across the artisanal and small-scale mining value chain.
Such enterprises, the participants noted, could contribute to improving mining practices while creating employment opportunities for young professionals.
Mining and reclamation
Speaking on behalf of TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Prof. Ing. Martin Kresner highlighted the institution’s extensive experience in mining, mineral development and the rehabilitation of degraded mining landscapes.
He stressed the importance of making land reclamation an integral part of mining operations rather than treating it as an activity to be undertaken only after mining had ended.
According to him, mining activities should be planned in a manner that ensures that degraded lands can be restored and put to productive use by communities after mining operations.
He said integrating rehabilitation into the mining process would help minimise the long-term environmental and socio-economic consequences associated with mining.
Practical approach
For his part, Dr. Ing. Martin Kofi Mensah underscored the importance of engaging directly with artisanal and small-scale miners in the development of interventions intended to improve the sector.
He said solutions designed for the ASM sector must take into consideration the realities and challenges confronting miners on the ground.
He advocated a practical approach to formalisation that would combine regulation with technical support, skills development and access to appropriate technologies.
Dr. Mensah further identified opportunities for training young professionals and developing specialised enterprises capable of providing technical services to miners across different stages of the ASM value chain.
Skills development
The discussions also placed considerable emphasis on human capital development, particularly the training of young people for emerging opportunities in the mining sector.
The participants observed that improved technical capacity could help miners adopt safer and more efficient production methods while also strengthening environmental management and responsible sourcing.
The development of specialised technical service providers could equally support miners who may not have access to advanced equipment, expertise or environmental management systems.
Responsible sourcing and traceability
Responsible sourcing and traceability also featured prominently in the discussions, with participants exploring how technology and technical cooperation could help improve transparency within the ASM value chain.
Improved traceability, they noted, could support efforts to ensure that gold entering formal markets is sourced responsibly and in accordance with applicable standards.
The discussions further highlighted the importance of strengthening environmental monitoring to ensure that mining activities are conducted in ways that minimise damage to land and other natural resources.
Sustainable future
The engagement between GoldBod and the YEMAYA Science Project consortium forms part of broader efforts to explore innovative approaches to the development of Ghana’s ASM sector.
The collaboration, if developed further, could bring together Ghanaian and German expertise in mining, environmental management, research, technology and skills development.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for the stakeholders to examine how academic institutions, government agencies and industry players could work together to develop practical solutions for the sector.
The stakeholders expressed interest in exploring potential cooperation in skills development, technology, responsible mining, environmental sustainability and post-mining land restoration.
The engagement therefore represents a platform for further discussions on how research, innovation and technical expertise can support Ghana’s drive towards a more formalised, responsible and sustainable artisanal and small-scale mining industry.
