Ghana Approves rCOMSDEP to Reform Mining, Create Jobs
The Government of Ghana, under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, has launched a sweeping new initiative—the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP)—intended to reshape the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector while creating sustainable employment opportunities. Approved by Cabinet on August 4, 2025, rCOMSDEP combines the existing Community Mining Scheme (CMS) and the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP) into a single, integrated framework to deliver far-reaching economic, environmental, and social benefits. At its core, rCOMSDEP seeks to establish regulated, community-owned mining cooperatives across Ghana. These cooperatives will receive legal concessions, professional training in geological surveying and mine safety, as well as access to shared processing centres compliant with international standards—including mercury-free gold recovery technologies and water treatment systems. Health and environmental risk mitigation is a central emphasis of the programme. A major push area is […]