By Our Democracy News GH
ACCRA, Ghana – October 28, 2026 – The National Concerned Small-Scale Miners Association of Ghana has endorsed the government’s Responsible Cooperative Mining Scheme, challenging the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to present a workable alternative for tackling illegal mining while protecting miners’ livelihoods.
The association said formalising unlicensed mining activities could strengthen regulatory oversight, improve environmental protection and bring more operators into the legal framework, arguing that the fight against galamsey should go beyond security operations.
In a statement dated October 26 and signed by its president, Michael Kwadwo Peprah, the association expressed concern about the NPP’s opposition to the formalisation approach supported by the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod).
It urged the opposition party to explain how it intends to address illegal mining if it rejects the cooperative scheme, insisting that criticism without practical alternatives would do little to resolve the persistent challenges facing the sector.
“The NPP cannot simply oppose formalisation without explaining how it intends to address the persistent challenges of illegal mining, protect our environment and secure the livelihoods of thousands of Ghanaian miners,” the association stated.
Miners demand practical alternatives
The association called on the NPP to clarify its position on the proposed scheme and outline measures it believes could effectively regulate small-scale mining.
It said miners needed to understand whether the opposition to formalisation was based on specific concerns about the policy or political considerations that did not address their circumstances.
According to the association, the cooperative approach could provide a pathway for operators willing to mine responsibly to regularise their activities and comply with applicable regulations.
Existing licensing framework needs support
The association noted that Ghana had pursued efforts to regulate small-scale mining since the introduction of the PNDC law on small-scale mining in 1989 under former President Jerry John Rawlings.
However, it argued that the existing licensing framework had not succeeded in bringing all miners into the formal sector, making additional measures necessary to encourage unlicensed operators to regularise their activities.
The association believes the Responsible Cooperative Mining Scheme could complement existing licensing arrangements by creating opportunities for miners to operate legally while strengthening oversight of their activities.
Livelihoods remain a concern
The association also stressed the importance of considering the economic circumstances of communities and individuals who depend on small-scale mining for their livelihoods.
It said thousands of Ghanaians, particularly young people, rely on the sector to earn incomes and support their families, making it necessary for policies aimed at combating galamsey to account for those realities.
The association’s endorsement adds to the debate over how Ghana can formalise small-scale mining, enforce environmental regulations and curb illegal operations.
The NPP’s response to the association’s challenge, as well as further details on the implementation and enforcement of the cooperative scheme, will be important to the ongoing discussion about the future of small-scale mining in Ghana.
