Barring any last-minute hitches, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Kofi Armah-Buah, is expected to commission the long-awaited Cooperative mining project for the people of Nkaseim in the Asutifi South District.
The initiative is designed to introduce a regulated, community-based mining model that applies environmentally safer extraction technologies, improves ore-processing efficiency and formalises small-scale mineral recovery.
This follows the start of a registration exercise by officials from the Minerals Commission and the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP).
Acting on the minister’s directive, the team is currently in Nkaseim, documenting and registering the various cooperatives.
The exercise is being led by George Dadzie Jnr., the Deputy National Coordinator of rCOMSDEP, in charge of operations, who, together with his team is engaging traditional authorities and other stakeholders to ensure a smooth process.
The latest development comes after Newmont Gold Limited released a sizeable portion of its concession to the Nkaseim community through the Minerals Commission.
For nearly 20 years, community members had worked informally on parts of the concession without legal authorisation.
Following the change in administration, the Chiefs and residents renewed their longstanding appeal for community mining through the newly created rCOMSDEP.
The intervention of the Lands Minister paved the way for the release of the concession to support a structured cooperative mining project.
The initiative is expected to help curb illegal mining, popularly called galamsey, and promote peaceful coexistence between the community and Newmont.
The Chiefs and people of Nkaseim, visibly excited, expressed appreciation to the President and the Lands Minister for helping secure a sustainable livelihood opportunity after years of uncertainty.
“I thank His Excellency the President that when we petitioned, they did not turn a blind eye. We look up to the government to ensure our youth can mine in peace and earn a decent living without fear,” Nana Ababio II said.
The traditional leaders, however, cautioned political actors in the district against attempts to interfere in or influence the project. They stressed that the cooperative mining initiative must not be subjected to partisan control.
“We want the community to succeed, so we won’t allow it to be handled in a partisan manner,” they warned, urging both NDC and NPP political figures to either support the President’s vision or keep away from the concession.
For decades, Nkaseim residents worked the land without official approval. Attempts by the previous NPP administration to formalise the arrangement did not succeed, leaving the project unresolved.
The current government, through rCOMSDEP, has revived the process and made significant progress.
The traditional authorities expressed profound gratitude to President Mahama, Minister Armah-Buah and the government for their commitment to advancing the community mining agenda.
Earlier, the Sompahene of Nkaseim, Nana Yaw Sarpong, recounted the community’s nearly two-decade fight for legal mining rights.
“This did not start today. It began back in 2007. We tried everything to get the licence so we could survive, but we never succeeded.
“People work in the area, but when they hear officials are coming, they run into the bush because, technically, we are trespassing on someone else’s land,” he said.
He continued: “We’ve gone through multiple administrations without success. But when President Mahama came to power, within three months he and Minister Kofi Armah-Buah supported us.
“Today, a delegation from Accra has come to verify our claims and engage us on the way forward. We are hopeful that when they report back, a lasting solution will be found.”
For more news, join The Chronicle Newspaper channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBSs55E50UqNPvSOm2z
The post Armah Kofi Buah To C’ssion Nkaseim Cooperative Mining Soon appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS