The National Coordinator of the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), Ms. Mawusi Ama Mawuenyefia, has outlined Ghana’s strategy for regulating community mining and addressing environmental degradation in mineral-rich areas.
Ms. Mawuenyefia delivered the address at the Investing in Africa Mining Indaba in South Africa on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.
She said the surge in global gold prices has increased pressure on Ghana’s mineralised communities, leading to widespread illegal mining, destruction of forest reserves and pollution of major water bodies.
According to her, the rCOMSDEP was developed to provide a structured and legal pathway for community members interested in mining, while ensuring responsible and sustainable practices.
Under the programme, residents in mineral-rich areas are organised into registered cooperatives and granted licences to mine within a strict regulatory framework.
Ms. Mawuenyefia said the initiative also seeks to address tensions between large-scale mining companies and host communities, where locals often feel excluded from the benefits of mineral extraction.
She explained that government is implementing a two-track approach: large-scale mining companies are encouraged to release portions of their concessions for allocation to community cooperatives, while areas without such companies will be supported through shared processing facilities and state-backed geological exploration.
Ms. Mawuenyefia stressed that the programme has received Cabinet approval and is supported by a strong legal and regulatory framework involving the Minerals Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Water Resources Commission and other oversight institutions.
She added that mercury-free processing technologies and gold traceability systems will be deployed to ensure that gold produced under the programme is environmentally responsible and traceable to verified sources.
Ms. Mawuenyefia said the rCOMSDEP represents a shift towards inclusive and accountable mining that balances livelihoods with environmental protection in Ghana.
Story By: Sheila Otuo – Baffour