EPA orders immediate halt to all unpermitted land reclamation and dredging

Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah inaugurates five mining cooperatives in Ellembelle

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has inaugurated five new societies under the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) in Nkroful, Ellembelle District. This initiative marks a significant step toward formalizing the small-scale mining sector and ensuring that gold extraction in the region is conducted under strict environmental and safety regulations. During the ceremony, the Minister presented official certificates and permits to the cooperatives, signaling a shift toward legal and sustainable operations. The Minister underscored the government's stance that the pursuit of gold must not come at the expense of Ghana’s natural heritage or the well-being of future generations. "Take the gold, but restore the land," he charged the cooperatives, emphasizing that land reclamation must follow extraction as a non-negotiable requirement. The program aims to change the public perception of small-scale mining from a destructive activity to a professionalized industry that contributes positively to the national economy while protecting water bodies and forest cover. Adding to the Minister's directives, the Regional Director, Mr. Akwasi Adjei Bawuah, highlighted the necessity of transparency and accountability within the newly formed cooperatives. He urged members to strictly adhere to their established bylaws and maintain high standards of operational safety. The rCOMSDEP framework is designed to provide miners with the necessary skills and legal backing to operate without the fear of crackdowns, provided they remain committed to the environmental restoration activities outlined in their permits. The inauguration of these five cooperatives in the Western Region serves as a blueprint for the Ministry's broader strategy to regulate the artisanal and small-scale mining sector across the country. By empowering local miners through the cooperative model, the government hopes to curb illegal mining operations and foster a culture of responsible resource management. The success of these groups in Ellembelle will be closely monitored as a test case for whether decentralized, community-based mining can effectively balance economic gain with ecological preservation.