The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is replacing illegal mining activities in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region with a Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme.

The initiative forms part of efforts to curb illegal mining and reduce its harmful impact on communities and water bodies.

Sector Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah said the government remains committed to ending illegal mining.

“We are helping to establish responsible community mining so that the youth who wish to mine can do so in a responsible manner, devoid of destruction to water bodies,” he said.

He made the remarks after handing over illegally mined land in the Ellembelle District for reclamation.

The Western Region hosts some of the country’s largest gold deposits. While licensed companies operate in the area, illegal mining remains widespread. At Nkroful, Anwia and Bokazo alone, about 800 acres of land have been destroyed.

Beyond reclamation, the Ministry is working to transition miners into more sustainable livelihoods.

Small-Scale Miners’ Intervention

Small-scale miners in the area are also developing the Anwiah Teleko Bokazo Responsible Cooperative Mining site with government support.

The site, an abandoned pit of Adamus Mining, was handed over for the proposed cooperative project. Since its abandonment, it has collected large volumes of water. The community, together with the Ministry, has deployed machinery to dewater it.

Francis Awuah, Assembly Member for the Anwian Electoral Area, said stakeholders are working to speed up the process.

“Machines deployed to dewater the mine pit are still at work, and we will complete the dewatering very soon,” he said.

After dewatering, key facilities such as a clinic, offices and changing rooms will be installed.

Miners expected to work at the site have already received training from the University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa.

Public Relations Officer of RCOMSDEP, Johnson Afful, said safety standards will be strictly adhered to before operations begin.

“Since we ensure all safety measures are in place in the mine, we will verify that all standards are met before operations begin,” he explained.

The community has accepted the standards set by RCOMSDEP and is working to meet them.

Mr Buah reaffirmed government’s support to make the site operational.

He said the Ministry will help fast-track dewatering and provide gold processing equipment for the cooperative.

“We know you are close to completing the pumping. We are going to fast-track it. The good news is that we are bringing the first set of processing machines to Ellembelle to support the cooperative mining programme,” he added.

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