The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has inaugurated four additional Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) cooperatives in Tarkwa and Bogoso in the Western Region as part of intensified efforts to combat illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey.

The initiative is expected to promote responsible mining practices, create sustainable livelihood opportunities for the youth and help protect the country’s rivers, forests and farmlands from the devastating effects of illegal mining.

The launch, held on Monday, November 9, brings the total number of newly introduced cooperatives in the Western Region under the recent rollout to additional communities, with the latest beneficiaries drawn from Tarkwa-Nsuaem and Prestea-Huni Valley municipalities.

The four cooperatives are Tanoyaa and A’koon societies in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality, and TAX ES, Bogum and Alignment in the Prestea-Huni Valley Municipality.

The rCOMSDEP initiative is designed to organise artisanal and small-scale miners, particularly young people, into legally recognised community-based cooperatives. Through the programme, members receive the necessary certification and permits to undertake mining activities within approved concessions in accordance with the country’s mining and environmental regulations.

The programme is expected to serve as an important intervention in the fight against galamsey by addressing some of the factors that drive illegal mining, including unemployment, the lack of access to legal mining concessions and the absence of structured support for small-scale miners.

By creating legitimate opportunities for young people to earn a living through regulated mining activities, the initiative seeks to discourage participation in illegal mining operations and encourage a transition towards environmentally responsible and sustainable mineral extraction.

The Minerals Commission, working alongside the Department of Cooperatives, is responsible for supervising the cooperatives to ensure compliance with mining regulations, environmental standards, occupational safety requirements, transparency and land reclamation obligations.

Members are also expected to protect water bodies, forest reserves and agricultural lands while adopting responsible mining methods that minimise environmental degradation.

Speaking at the inauguration and presentation of permits, alongside Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson, Mr Buah raised concerns about the extensive destruction of forest reserves across the country.

He disclosed that the scale of forest reserve destruction now exceeds an area equivalent to 12,000 football fields, stressing that the pursuit of economic benefits from mineral resources must not come at the expense of the country’s environmental security.

The Minister emphasised that Ghana’s natural resources must be exploited responsibly to ensure that present economic activities do not compromise the livelihoods and environmental wellbeing of future generations.

The launch comes amid continuing concerns over the devastating impact of galamsey on the country’s water bodies, forest reserves and agricultural lands. Illegal mining has contributed significantly to river pollution, land degradation and the destruction of vital ecosystems.

Recent reports of renewed illegal mining activities along the Tano River have further highlighted the urgency of strengthening efforts to protect Ghana’s water resources.

Concerns have also been raised by researchers about the long-term consequences of galamsey-related pollution, with some estimates suggesting that affected rivers could take up to 100 years to recover, while contaminated lands could require as many as 300 years to regain their ecological condition.

Against this background, rCOMSDEP is expected to complement ongoing government interventions against illegal mining by providing a structured pathway for artisanal miners to operate within the law.

Mr Buah said the success of the programme under the administration of President John Dramani Mahama would depend largely on the commitment and cooperation of host communities, traditional authorities, regulatory institutions and other stakeholders.

He called on community members and traditional leaders to support the initiative, reject illegal mining operators and ensure that the newly established cooperatives become models of responsible mineral extraction and local economic development.

The Acting National Coordinator of rCOMSDEP, Shehu Siddiq, said the programme’s secretariat would intensify efforts to register additional mining cooperatives across the country to expand access to formal employment opportunities, particularly for young people in mining communities.

Western Regional Director of Cooperatives, Akwasi Adjei Bawuah, also assured the beneficiaries of the necessary regulatory and institutional support to ensure the successful implementation of the programme.

Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for Tarkwa-Nsuaem, Issah Taykor, and his counterpart for Prestea-Huni Valley, Robert Wisdom Cudjoe, welcomed the initiative, describing it as an opportunity to address youth unemployment while promoting responsible mining in their respective constituencies.

They urged members of the newly inaugurated cooperatives to strictly adhere to the rules governing their operations and avoid practices that could undermine the programme’s objectives.

The four cooperatives add to the growing number of community mining groups being established under rCOMSDEP. They follow the launch of five cooperatives in Ellembelle and three in Nzema East in October, as well as earlier initiatives in Ahanta West, Mpohor Fiase and parts of the Eastern Region.

As Ghana continues its fight against galamsey, the expansion of rCOMSDEP presents an opportunity to tackle illegal mining through a combination of formalisation, job creation, community participation and environmental protection.

If effectively implemented and rigorously monitored, the initiative could help reduce the economic incentives for illegal mining, provide young people with legitimate employment opportunities and strengthen community ownership of the fight against environmental destruction.

Ultimately, the success of the programme will depend not only on registering cooperatives and issuing mining permits but also on ensuring strict enforcement of environmental regulations, protecting water bodies and holding members accountable for responsible mining practices.