The National Coordinator for the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), Ama Mawusi Mawuenyefia, has announced that Ghana’s new Cooperative Mining Scheme will ensure mining revenues are directly reinvested into community development.
According to her, the initiative marks a significant shift from previous models by prioritising shared benefits for host communities rather than individual gains.
“The difference between what we are doing and what was done in the past is clear. Previously, individuals could take mining licences in the name of a community, but the community was not benefiting,” she said.
She explained that under the new system, only members of the host communities will form part of the cooperatives, ensuring that proceeds from mining activities are used to fund critical infrastructure such as schools, healthcare facilities and road networks.
“When they engage in mining, portions of the revenue go back into the community. If the community needs a school, roads or a hospital, it can be funded from the mining activities taking place there,” she stated.
The Cooperative Mining Scheme forms part of a broader national effort to formalise the small-scale mining sector and promote responsible mining practices across the country.
The nationwide registration exercise under rCOMSDEP is aimed at transforming artisanal mining groups into legally recognised cooperatives, ensuring compliance with Ghana’s mining laws while improving accountability and environmental standards.
Ms Mawuenyefia noted that the programme, which has already been piloted in the Western and Western North Regions, is expected to create a comprehensive database of miners and support their transition into the formal economy.
She added that the registration process will follow a structured four-phase system to ensure transparency and efficiency.
Following verification, qualified cooperatives will be issued six-month temporary operating permits, allowing them to begin operations under strict monitoring while working towards full licensing.
Describing the initiative as a support-driven intervention, she said miners have increasingly shown willingness to participate.
“This is a support programme. We are here to help, and the miners are now coming on board willingly,” she noted, expressing optimism about a nationwide rollout in the coming weeks.
The Cooperative Mining Scheme is expected to bring structure, accountability and long-term sustainability to Ghana’s small-scale mining sector, which supports millions of livelihoods.
