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Daniel Kaku Blog of Monday, 30 June 2025
Source: Kaku Daniel
The Government of Ghana is urged to actively promote community cooperative mining as a strategic approach to empower local communities, ensure responsible mining practices, and enhance economic development at the grassroots level.
In this regard, the Wassa Damang community stands out as a prime candidate for piloting this initiative.
Integrating Wassa Damang into the cooperative mining scheme will enable government institutions to effectively monitor, regulate, and support small-scale mining activities while also safeguarding the environment and ensuring sustainable livelihoods.
A key component of this cooperative strategy is the release of mine waste by large-scale mining companies to local communities for alternative livelihood projects. These waste rocks, when properly utilized, can be transformed into valuable products such as tiles, glass, and residual gold, creating employment opportunities and promoting entrepreneurship in the Damang area.
Under the leadership of Nana Enimere Kwaw II, the recognized chief of Wassa Damang in the Western region, significant strides have been made toward harnessing this potential.
He has engaged with multiple prospective investors who have expressed strong interest in value addition to mine waste—a move that promises to unlock economic growth across the region.
Furthermore, Nana Enimere Kwaw II has revealed that the Damang community is on the verge of securing a major physical investment of approximately USD $20 million through the soon-to-be-launched Damang Mining Community Development Hub.
This hub will serve as a center for innovation, job creation, and community empowerment through mining-related value chains.
The Damang experience illustrates the tremendous potential of cooperative mining when paired with visionary leadership, government support, and private sector collaboration.
It is time for Ghana to embrace this model, not only as a mining policy but as a nation-building tool for shared prosperity.
