Ghana’s cooperative mining programme is “near failure” and showing little evidence of impact nearly two years after its rollout, a mining consultant has warned, citing inconsistencies in official data and lack of activity on the ground.

Wisdom Gomashiesaid an RTI response from authorities indicates that only one cooperative mining scheme has been established since 2025 — and it is yet to begin production.

“They have just done one cooperative mine, which is not even in operation,” he told the Asaase Breakfast Show on Tuesday (26 May). “So virtually nothing is going on so far as this policy is concerned.”

The policy was introduced as a replacement for earlier community mining schemes, which the current administration criticised as overly politicised. It is intended to formalise small-scale mining and curb illegal mining, known locally as galamsey.

However, Gomashie pointed to contradictions in official data, noting that while authorities reported the creation of 100 direct and 300 indirect jobs, the same document confirmed that no gold has yet been produced.

“If they have not produced any gold, then what are they doing?” he asked.

The government has also projected the establishment of up to 150 cooperatives by the end of 2026, a target Gomashie described as unrealistic given current progress.

“From 2025 to date you have done one, and you are promising 150. There are inconsistencies,” he said.

He further questioned the programme’s ability to address illegal mining, warning that “we should not expect anything” from the policy in its current state.

“From this document… there is no result on the ground,” he added. “Illegal mining is still going to thrive.”

Gomashie called for greater transparency, including mandatory disclosure of mining data under right-to-information laws, arguing that public scrutiny could improve accountability and investor confidence.