The Ghanaian government is set to launch the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme, aimed at providing sustainable and legal alternatives for small-scale miners. This initiative, part of a broader campaign against illegal mining, will equip local miners with modern tools, practical training, and cooperative structures to ensure environmentally responsible mining practices. Announced by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the programme seeks to transform the small-scale mining sector into a driver of inclusive development. The Minister emphasized the severe impact of illegal mining on Ghana’s rivers, which have become heavily polluted, forcing the shutdown of treatment plants and threatening public health and economic stability. He stressed that the government supports responsible mining and is committed to combating the lawlessness in the sector. The Blue Water Initiative, under President John Dramani Mahama’s leadership, complements this effort by deploying trained personnel to protect water bodies from illegal mining pollution. The newly inaugurated Blue Water Guards are tasked with monitoring and preventing illegal activities, and the government calls for community involvement to safeguard natural resources for future generations.
Is the government ready to empower local miners with a new responsible mining programme?
