Communities in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region have welcomed the launch of the government's Responsible Cooperative Mining Programme, which is expected to create employment for the youth and fund development projects in host communities.

The programme was launched at Nkroful on Friday, October 16, 2026, for beneficiary communities including Asanta, Bomoakpole, Nzema Akropong, Salman and Nkroful-Kikam.

Under the initiative, part of the proceeds from gold sales will be set aside to embark on development projects in the host communities, while members of the cooperative societies operate only within their designated concessions and protect the environment and water bodies.

Speaking at the launch, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, said the initiative aims to prove that mining can be done responsibly without destroying the environment.

"This is not galamsey. This is responsible cooperative mining," he said.

He revealed that illegal mining has destroyed 8,900 hectares of land and polluted 60 percent of Ghana's water bodies, with turbidity levels rising from 500 to between 5,000 and 12,000, making water treatment nearly impossible.

He noted that the government has registered over 6,000 excavators at the Tema Port, placed more than 2,000 on tracking and geofencing, and seized over 3,000 others as part of ongoing reforms, including the Blue Water Initiative and Tree for Life Initiative.

The Minister also announced the establishment of a station of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Secretariat in the Ellembelle District to strengthen enforcement.

He paid tribute to officials who lost their lives in the fight against illegal mining, urging beneficiaries to honour their sacrifice.

"People have paid the ultimate price for your responsible cooperative mining. Don't forget it," he added.

Buah therefore advised residents to take the cooperative mining seriously and urged them to use the proceeds to do something important in their communities.

He warned them against returning to illegal mining, saying NAIMOS will not spare anybody in Ellembelle who attempts to engage in illegal mining.

He also took the opportunity to appeal to them to back him to clamp down on illegal mining in Ghana.

Buah also disclosed that Cabinet has approved new minerals and mining laws which are currently awaiting parliamentary approval to strengthen regulation of the sector and support the fight against illegal mining.

He said the new laws will reduce the mining lease period from 30 years to 20 years, and ensure that local chiefs are involved directly in the mining lease acquisition process.

The Minister further recalled that in 2024, President John Mahama promised to localise the Minerals Commission, and expressed happiness that the process has started, commending President Mahama for the initiative.

The acting National Coordinator of rCOMSDEP, Sheihu Sidiqq, charged the cooperative mining communities to abide by the laid down regulations.

He said the minister has every right to revoke their license if they go contrary to the regulations.

He commended the EPA, Water Commissions, Minerals Commission and other agencies for supporting the programme.

The deputy CEO in charge of support services of the Minerals Commission, Emmanuel Anyimah, pledged the commission's support to the programme.

He took the opportunity to highlight the responsibilities of the minerals to the people and urged them to back the government fully to end the galamsey completely.

On his part, the DCE for the area, Joseph Agyekum, commended the Lands and Natural Resources Minister for the programme and pledged to support the cooperative mining communities to do the right thing.

The chiefs and their people expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah and President John Dramani Mahama for the initiative, describing it as the best alternative to end galamsey in Ghana.

They pledged to use the proceeds to transform their communities.