The Government of Ghana will officially launch the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at Black Park near Len Clay Stadium in Obuasi, in a bid to transform the small-scale mining sector and promote sustainable livelihoods.
The event, scheduled for 9:00 AM, will be graced by President John Dramani Mahama as Special Guest of Honor, with the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, leading the ceremony.
rCOMSDEP is a new national initiative designed to regulate and support small-scale mining through the formation of responsible cooperatives.
The programme replaces the Community Mining Scheme (CMS) and the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP), consolidating efforts under one strategic framework.
According to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, rCOMSDEP aims to empower local communities, improve environmental sustainability, and boost Ghana’s local content participation in the mining value chain.
In a recent working visit to Gold Fields Tarkwa Mines and AngloGold Ashanti’s Iduapriem Mines, Hon. Buah called on large-scale mining firms to support the small-scale sector.
“I want to see large-scale mining companies nurturing small-scale miners in these areas,” he said.
“This way, when we recount Ghana’s mining story, we can highlight tangible efforts to empower the small-scale sector.”
The programme is also aligned with government’s broader efforts to revise the National Mining Policy and the Minerals and Mining Act—reforms currently 85% complete.
With high-level political support and a renewed focus on sustainability, rCOMSDEP is expected to become a game-changer in Ghana’s mining sector.
