The President of the Concerned Small Scale Miners Association, Mr. Michael Kwadwo Peprah, has issued a strong appeal to the Government of Ghana to fulfil its manifesto commitment to implement a cooperative mining scheme, describing it as a potential “game changer” for the country’s struggling small-scale mining sector.
Speaking to the media, Mr. Peprah emphasised the urgency of transitioning from fragmented and often illegal mining practices to a formalised, regulated structure that supports responsible mining and environmental sustainability.
“What I would urge the government is to make sure that it should implement what is in its manifesto, bringing about the cooperative mining scheme. That would be a game changer in the sector.”
Mr. Michael Kwadwo Peprah, President of the Concerned Small Scale Miners Association
The proposed Cooperative Mining Scheme, a policy commitment included in the current administration’s election manifesto, is designed to create legally recognised mining cooperatives, allowing groups of five or more individuals to collectively obtain a small-scale mining licence.
The scheme would effectively replace the traditional system in which licences were issued to individuals, many of whom lacked the capacity to meet environmental and safety standards.
According to Mr. Peprah, introducing cooperative mining has the potential to integrate thousands of informal miners popularly known as galamsey operators into the formal economy.
This, he argues, would not only help reduce illegal mining but also ensure more effective environmental monitoring and community accountability.
“In so doing, by inspiring small-scale miners, all these galamseyers who are mining with impunity will come under the small-scale mining sector.”
Mr. Michael Kwadwo Peprah, President of the Concerned Small Scale Miners Association
Mr. Peprah emphasised that legitimising informal miners through cooperative structures would open new doors for training, supervision, and financial support.
He argued that such a framework could help miners adopt environmentally sustainable methods and improve health and safety practices across mining communities.
He, however, cautioned that simply issuing licences would not resolve the deep-rooted problems of illegal mining unless accompanied by strict enforcement of laws and equitable treatment of miners.
“If you give somebody a licence and there are other people who are mining with impunity, then the licensed operator is at a disadvantage.
“At least these people should be dealt with in mining sustainably.”
Mr. Michael Kwadwo Peprah, President of the Concerned Small Scale Miners Association
A Tool Against Illegal Mining
Illegal small-scale mining remains a major challenge for Ghana, impacting rivers, forests, and farmlands, and causing significant environmental degradation.
While enforcement efforts have included military interventions and public crackdowns, critics argue that these measures have not been effective without sustainable alternatives.
Experts say that a cooperative mining system could be a more viable long-term solution, aligning economic incentives with responsible mining behaviour and giving the government a more manageable structure for oversight.
The Concerned Small Scale Miners Association called on the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Minerals Commission to provide clarity on the roadmap for implementing the cooperative mining framework.
Though discussions have taken place at policy levels, there has been little public communication on timelines or criteria for cooperative licensing.
“This is something our members have been looking forward to.
“The longer it takes, the more we allow illegal mining to fester without an alternative pathway.”
Mr. Michael Kwadwo Peprah, President of the Concerned Small Scale Miners Association
If fully implemented, the Cooperative Mining Scheme could play a pivotal role in Ghana’s wider effort to sanitise the small-scale mining space, formalise the informal economy, and promote sustainable use of natural resources.
The government’s credibility on mining reform now hinges, in part, on whether it can move from policy promises to practical results that benefit both miners and the environment.
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