The Ghana Chamber of Mines has thrown its weight behind the newly launched Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), describing it as a “bold and visionary” initiative that could redefine the country’s small-scale mining landscape.
Speaking at the launch at Black Park, Obuasi, Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, Ing. Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey said the programme represents a significant step toward fostering a “live and let live” relationship between well-structured cooperative mining groups and large-scale mining operations.
“We see this programme not only as an important intervention but as part of our legacy, a legacy to ensure that Ghana continues to mine responsibly,” Dr. Ashigbey stated.
The CEO emphasised that responsible cooperative mining should create mutual benefits, urging that the programme tap into Ghanaian technical expertise, from local consultants to mining graduates, to improve mining practices and professionalism. He proposed that remuneration for such expertise be drawn from mining proceeds, ensuring job creation alongside responsible operations.
Dr. Ashigbey also called for each cooperative to operate transparently as a registered limited liability company, and for communities to participate actively as contractors to larger mines, thereby building sustainable local enterprises.
Drawing a comparison between the Community Mining Scheme (CMS) and the new rCOMSDEP, Dr. Ashigbey highlighted the latter’s stronger governance framework, cooperative-based ownership model, and mandatory profit-sharing formula. Under rCOMSDEP, 60–80% of profits will go to cooperatives and communities, 10–15% to local authorities, and 10% to reclamation funds.
He, however, noted gaps including the absence of dedicated funding for continuous exploration, a critical element for sustaining mining operations. He also warned that complex licensing procedures could still push miners into informality.
The Chamber CEO expressed concern that the new scheme, like its predecessor, lacks robust environmental safeguards such as reclamation bonds and swift penalties for violations. Without integrating deterrence measures and enforcing the “polluter pays principle”, he cautioned, the programme risks replicating the failures of unregulated small-scale mining (galamsey).
Despite these shortcomings, Dr. Ashigbey welcomed the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources’ engagement with stakeholders to refine the framework. He pledged the Chamber’s collaboration to ensure the programme achieves its goal of fostering a sustainable, inclusive, and responsible mining sector.
“If done properly, rCOMSDEP is the path to a sustainable, inclusive, and responsible mining future for our country,” he concluded.
The rCOMSDEP aims to formalise and professionalise cooperative mining in Ghana, with a focus on skills development, local participation, and equitable benefit-sharing a move stakeholders hope will balance economic gains with environmental stewardship.