Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Kweku Asomah- Cheremeh has intimated to miners in the Ashanti Region that, the Community Mining Scheme introduced by government has come to stay and will not be abolished as initially purported.
His assurance comes on the back of miners raising concerns with regards to the replacement of the mining scheme by former President John Mahama, who announced a replacement of the Community Mining Scheme with cooperative mining when his government is voted into power.
Speaking during the joint launch of the Community Mining Scheme for some four communities in the Ashanti Region at the Akrokeri Community Mining site on Monday, 2nd November, 2020, Mr. Asomah- Cheremeh said that, the Scheme has the capacity to create meaningful employment for large numbers in the rural and host communities across the mining areas.
According to the Minister, within the four designated locations and their immediate surroundings in the four communities, the Ministry estimated that a total of 16,100 jobs made up of 12,400 direct and 3,700 indirect jobs will be created by the Scheme, adding that the scheme aligns with government’s agenda of job creation.
“The Scheme will stimulate wealth creation and improve the local economy through the generated income staying within local communities in Ghana and not leaving the shores of the country.
“The scheme will further enable community involvement in mining and in turn also fulfil the legitimate desire by host communities to participate in the mining industry value chain.”
He further noted that, the scheme will create other linkages with the other sectors of the economy.
To ensure a successful implementation, the Minister revealed that, key strategies have been infused into the Community Mining Scheme.
Among the strategies, he said, were the formation of a Community Mining Oversight Committee; adoption of the small-scale miner’s code of practice, and provision of support services to the community miners.
Mr Asomah-Cheremeh said, the Scheme was an adaptation of small- scale mining as provided for under sections 81-99 of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) and is in fulfilment of the New Patriotic Party’s 2016 manifesto promise.
The Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Minerals Commission, rolled has out a Community Mining Scheme for some four communities in the Ashanti Region as part of the various schemes rolled out in some regions.
The communities are; Obunso, Akrokeri, Fumso and Adamso-Aplapo. They are across four District Assemblies namely Adansi North, Adansi South, Adansi Asokwa and Akrofuom.
As part of governments effort to mitigate illegal mining popularly known as “galamsey” among the small-scale miners in the country, government introduced the Community Mining Scheme (CMS).
The CMS, which is being implemented by the Minerals Commission, is a small-scale mining operation in line with Sections 81 – 99 of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) is also an initiative by the government to promote local participation in the small-scale mining sector.
Unlike the illegal mining, where miners engaged in speculative mining with it resulting in environmental devastations, CMS would utilise land that had been designated for mines in accordance with Section 89 of Act 703.
