The Government of Ghana has approved a bold new initiative to transform the country’s artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector, with the introduction of the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP).
The programme, championed by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and approved by Cabinet, reflects President John Dramani Mahama’s vision to create sustainable jobs through responsible mining practices.
rCOMSDEP is a comprehensive national framework that consolidates and builds on the achievements of the Community Mining Scheme (CMS) and the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP). It aims to correct the shortcomings of these previous initiatives through better coordination, implementation, and resource efficiency.
Transforming the Small-Scale Mining Sector
The newly approved rCOMSDEP will be Ghana’s flagship reform programme for the ASM sector.
At its heart is the establishment of community-owned mining cooperatives, which will benefit from:
• Professional training,
• Legally allocated concessions,
• Centralised gold processing centres using modern mercury-free recovery technologies and water treatment systems.
This approach will not only improve operational safety and gold recovery rates but also eliminate the harmful use of mercury, a major environmental and health hazard in many ASM areas.
Empowering Communities Through Skills and Opportunity
A key pillar of the programme is skills development. rCOMSDEP is structured to empower youth and women through vocational, technical, digital, and entrepreneurial training — broadening the scope of employment and self-employment in and beyond the mining sector.
According to the Ministry, rCOMSDEP is designed to achieve three core objectives:
1. Promote and regulate environmentally responsible cooperative mining,
2. Restore lands degraded by illegal mining for agriculture, forestry, and other productive uses,
3. Equip youth and women with relevant skills for alternative livelihoods.
Six Strategic Pillars of rCOMSDEP
To realise its ambitious goals, rCOMSDEP is anchored on six interconnected pillars:
1. Cooperative Mining Scheme: Creation of licensed, community-owned mining groups with centralised mercury-free processing facilities.
2. Mine Support Services: Provision of modern equipment, technical training, geological services, and compliance support to improve mining standards.
3. Vocational Training & Entrepreneurship Development: Accredited training programmes to build expertise in mining operations and alternative trades.
4. Environmental Rehabilitation: Large-scale land reclamation and reforestation to restore ecosystems and generate green jobs.
5. Agricultural Value Chain Development: Formation of farming cooperatives and agro-processing initiatives to diversify local economies and enhance food security, in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
6. Community Infrastructure Development: Investment of mining revenue into water systems, health clinics, schools, and renewable energy to uplift mining communities.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has accordingly called on all stakeholders from traditional leaders and youth groups to civil society organisations and private investors to actively engage in rCOMSDEP’s rollout.
“This programme is not just about mining,” said Ama Mawusi Mawuenyefia, Director of Communications at the Ministry. “It’s about transforming our communities, protecting our environment, and creating real opportunity for the next generation.”
As Ghana sets out on this transformative path, rCOMSDEP promises to redefine how small-scale mining is practised responsibly, sustainably, and for the benefit of all.
