The Secretariat of the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), in collaboration with the Minerals Commission, has begun a nationwide registration of small-scale miners.

The exercise, piloted in the Western and Western North Regions, seeks to formalise and regulate the small-scale mining sector to promote accountability and environmental responsibility.

A statement issued by the rCOMSDEP Secretariat and copied to the Ghana News Agency said the exercise was designed to achieve three main objectives: formalising artisanal mining groups into legally recognised cooperatives, ensuring regulatory compliance and aligning their operations with national mining laws.

It said selected mining sites would undergo geological evaluation to determine their mineral potential and economic viability to ensure that registered cooperatives operated on concessions capable of sustaining productive activity.

The statement said the exercise would enable the Minerals Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ghana Geological Survey Authority (GGSA) to undertake field inspections and assessments.

“This will trigger the formal processes required for the issuance of operating permits, including environmental clearances and mining licences,” it said.

To ensure efficiency and transparency, the statement said the registration process would follow a structured four-phase workflow.

Field teams would capture details of cooperative members, including national identification numbers and contact information.

Technical teams would then conduct geological validation and terrain stability checks on proposed concessions, while environmental risk screening would assess water use, tailings management, and ore processing methods.

Following verification and assessment, the documentation would undergo final review by rCOMSDEP and the Minerals Commission.

Qualified cooperatives would subsequently be issued a six-month Temporary Operating Permit to commence operations under monitoring while working towards full licensing.

The statement said registered cooperatives would receive continuous technical support and monitoring to ensure compliance with environmental standards and operational best practices in line with the Cabinet-approved rCOMSDEP policy framework.

It said the exercise would enable the Government to develop a verified database of registered miners and mining groups, from whom it would purchase gold to ensure traceability and legitimacy in the supply chain.

The Secretariat said the success of the initiative depended on collaboration among stakeholders, including traditional authorities and local government leaders.

It urged small-scale miners and artisanal mining groups to cooperate with registration officials and present the required documentation.

The exercise, it said, provided an opportunity for miners to transition into the formal economy, obtain legal recognition and contribute to the sustainable development of Ghana’s mining sector.