The Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) has continued its nationwide community engagement drive with visits to mining communities in the Prestea Huni Valley Municipality of the Western Region and Ayanfuri in the Central Region.
At Aboso Gangway, Fanti Mines, and Bogum Mining Shafts in Prestea Huni Valley, rCOMSDEP Coordinator, Engineer Frank Pedro Asare, sensitised miners on the importance of safety in mining operations. He stressed the need for personal protective equipment (PPEs), clear signage, emergency assembly points, and health posts.
“If we want to safeguard lives and make mining sustainable, safety must be non-negotiable,” he said.
He further cautioned miners against involving children in mining activities, describing it as unlawful.
On processing methods, he mentioned the establishment of centralised mining plants to reduce environmental damage and create more jobs.
Leaders of the shafts welcomed the cooperative mining initiative as a tool for safer and more responsible operations. At Bogum Mines, miners appealed for government’s assistance with transportation and management of explosives.
“Our method of mining is rock mining, and explosives are usually controlled by large mining companies. We need government’s support to access and manage them Properly one leader said.
The rCOMSDEP team later engaged miners and community leaders in Denkyira Ayanfuri in the Central Region, where they met with the Zongo Chief, the District Chief Executive for Upper Denkyira West, Honourable Isaac Nsiah and leaders of small-scale miners. Discussions centred on the benefits of cooperative mining and adherence to health, safety, and environmental standards.
The Spokesperson for the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Mahmod Kabore urged miners to embrace the cooperative mining model, noting that it would align them with new government policies.
“With the Goldbod initiative, government is buying gold only from licensed mining companies. Cooperative mining gives you that opportunity to benefit from the policy,” he stated.