By Ashiadey Dotse
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has urged small-scale mining cooperatives to mine gold responsibly and restore lands degraded by their operations.
He said mining should create economic opportunities without destroying the environment, polluting rivers or threatening the livelihoods of future generations.
Mr Buah made the call at Nkroful in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region during the inauguration of five Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) societies.
The societies are Salman, Atomic, Asanta, Bomoakpole and Akropong.
At the ceremony, the minister presented certificates and permits to the cooperatives to enable them to operate within their approved concessions.
The initiative forms part of the government’s efforts to regulate small-scale mining and promote responsible mining practices.
The government also aims to restore order in the sector and demonstrate that small-scale mining can generate income while protecting the environment.
The Regional Director of the Department of Cooperatives, Akwasi Adjei Bawuah, said the inauguration presented an opportunity to transform the future of small-scale mining in the Western Region.
He urged the five societies to challenge the perception that small-scale mining is environmentally destructive by operating legally, prioritising safety and ensuring that members benefit fairly.
Mr Bawuah also called on members and executives to comply with their cooperative bylaws and ensure that no individual was placed above the society.
He stressed the need for transparent record-keeping, open weighing of gold, fair sharing of proceeds and proper management of members’ funds.
He further urged the cooperatives to make the use of safety equipment, including helmets and boots, compulsory for their members.
Mr Bawuah said tree planting and land reclamation should also be integrated into the societies’ operations to help restore areas affected by mining.
He called on the cooperatives to uphold the principles of accountability, safety and environmental protection as they begin operations.
