rCOMSDEP Advocates Responsible Mining in the Savannah Region

The Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, has intensified its campaign to promote responsible and sustainable mining practices with a series of community outreach engagements in the Savannah Region.

One of the forums, held at the forecourt of the Tuntumbawura’s Palace, brought together representatives from Camp, Cruff, and Tuntumba communities.

The engagement served as a platform to educate miners on the benefits of responsible mining, the cooperative mining scheme, and the importance of securing legal permits for their operations.

Community members, however, expressed frustration over a large-scale mining company that has held a concession in the area since 2016 without delivering any visible benefits to residents.

They lamented that this has discouraged small-scale miners from pursuing legal permits.

In response, the National Coordinator of rCOMSDEP, Ing. Frank Asare Pedro, urged miners to embrace the programme’s licensing process.

He stressed that acquiring a legal permit is critical in the fight against illegal mining and its environmental destruction.

He further explained that rCOMSDEP’s cooperative model offers miners a structured pathway to operate legally while contributing to sustainable community development.

The outreach also extended to Dakrupe, where rCOMSDEP engaged with the leadership of the Association of Artisanal Miners. Discussions centered on how the programme could support artisanal miners to transition into formalized operations.

The miners appealed for assistance with equipment such as pumping machines and pledged their commitment to partner with rCOMSDEP in advancing responsible mining in Dakrupe.

Through these engagements, rCOMSDEP is reinforcing government’s commitment to making mining a driver of local development rather than a source of environmental harm.

The initiative forms part of the Ministry’s broader vision of building a responsible, inclusive, and sustainable mining sector that protects the environment while uplifting mining communities nationwide.