By Lawrence Odoom
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has supplanted illicit mining activities in Ellembelle District, Western Region, with a structured Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme, marking a decisive pivot toward environmental restoration and sustainable livelihoods.
The intervention is a cornerstone of government’s broader strategy to eradicate illegal mining and mitigate its deleterious impact on ecosystems and water resources.
Sector Minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, affirmed the NDC administration’s unwavering resolve to end galamsey.
“We are helping start the responsible community mining so that the youth who wish to mine can do it responsibly, devoid of destruction to water bodies,” he stated after ceremonially handing over a degraded parcel in Ellembelle District for reclamation.
The Western Region harbors some of Ghana’s most extensive gold reserves. While concession holders operate lawfully, illegal mining persists with alarming intensity. At Nkroful, Anwia and Bokazo alone, an estimated 800 acres of arable land have been rendered barren.
Beyond land restoration, the Ministry is orchestrating a transition for artisanal miners into regulated, economically viable alternatives.
Local artisanal miners are spearheading development of the Anwiah-Teleko-Bokazo Responsible Cooperative Mining site with state backing.
The site, a disused pit previously operated by Adamus Mining, was ceded for the cooperative venture. Since its abandonment, the excavation has amassed substantial volumes of water. In collaboration with the Ministry, the community has deployed heavy machinery to dewater the pit.
Francis Awuah, Assembly Member for Anwian Electoral Area, noted that stakeholders are expediting the process.
“Machines deployed to dewater the mine pit are still at work and we will complete the dewatering very soon,” he said.
Upon completion of dewatering, critical infrastructure will be erected, including a clinic, administrative offices, and changing facilities.
Artisans earmarked for operations at the site have already undergone technical training at the University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa.
John Afful, Public Relations Officer of RCOMSDEP, underscored that compliance with safety protocols is non-negotiable.
“Since we ensure all safety measures are deployed in the mine, we will check if all things are standard before operations,” he explained.
The community has embraced RCOMSDEP’s standards and is aligning its operations accordingly.
He reiterated the programme’s commitment to dismantling illegal mining by enforcing regulated practices and intensifying surveillance in concert with the EPA, NAIMOS, and other regulatory agencies.
He asserted that the initiative is engineered to transition miners from hazardous, unregulated operations to safer, sustainable, and legally compliant practices.
He implored miners engaged in clandestine activities to adopt sanctioned methods that preserve life, protect the environment, and catalyze community development.
This renewed offensive follows months of community sensitization, advocacy campaigns, and stakeholder dialogues across mining enclaves since the programme’s inauguration on August 6, 2025, in Obuasi, Ashanti Region.
Mr. Buah reaffirmed government’s commitment to operationalizing the site.
He disclosed that the Ministry will expedite dewatering and furnish the cooperative with modern gold processing equipment.
“We know that you are close to finishing the pumping, we are going to fast track it. The good news is that we are bringing the first set of processing machines to Ellembelle to support the cooperative mining program,” he added.