Nana Enimere Kwaw II, Chief of Wassa Damang in the Western Region, has made a strong appeal to the Government of Ghana to promote community cooperative mining as a viable and sustainable model for inclusive economic development.
According to him, this approach can help address long-standing issues related to small-scale mining by ensuring that local communities benefit directly from the resources extracted from their lands.
Community cooperative mining involves shared ownership, responsible mining practices, and structured oversight from relevant authorities.
The chief believes that this model can improve regulation, reduce illegal mining, and create new economic opportunities for mining communities across the country.
He proposed Wassa Damang as an ideal location to pilot the cooperative mining model, given the area’s long-standing involvement in the gold mining sector and its potential for transformation.
By integrating the community into a structured cooperative mining framework, government agencies would be better positioned to monitor and support mining activities, protect the environment, and promote sustainable livelihoods.
A key part of the proposal involves utilizing mine waste from large-scale mining companies. Nana Enimere Kwaw II has called on these companies to release non-toxic waste rocks to local communities for processing.
These materials can be transformed into useful products such as tiles, glass, and bricks, and may even contain traces of gold.
This initiative could support entrepreneurship, reduce unemployment, and boost the local economy.
The chief disclosed that his office has engaged several investors who have shown interest in mine waste processing.
He also announced that the Wassa Damang community is close to securing an investment of approximately 20 million US dollars for the establishment of a Mining Community Development Hub.
This hub will serve as a centre for training in responsible mining practices, value addition to mine waste, and small-scale industrial activities.
It will also provide support for youth employment and skills development, offering practical solutions to rural economic challenges.
According to the chief, the vision is not limited to Wassa Damang but can be replicated in other mining communities across the country.
He urged policymakers, traditional leaders, and industry stakeholders to work together to support cooperative mining as a tool for national development.
Nana Enimere Kwaw II believes that with coordinated support from government, traditional authorities, and the private sector, cooperative mining can transform mining communities from zones of poverty and conflict into centres of productivity, innovation, and prosperity.
He concluded by stating that the time has come for Ghana to rethink its approach to small-scale mining and that community-driven cooperative models offer a practical and inclusive pathway forward.
