To encourage responsible small-scale mining, the Lands Ministry has launched an award scheme to reward responsible small-scale miners who adhere to the health, safety, and environmental standards.

The awards ceremony will be held annually to promote responsible and sustainable mining in the sector.

This year’s maiden edition will be held on December 22, under the theme 'Promoting Responsible and Sustainable Small-Scale Mining'.

The award categories include Most Promising Small-Scale Miner, Best Female SmallScale Miner, Best Male Small-Scale Miner, Best in Environmental Stewardship, and Best in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Speaking at the First Ghana School of Law SRC Public Lecture in KNUST on the theme “The Legal Regime of the Mining Sector in Ghana; History, Challenges, and the way forward”, the Lands and Natural Resources Minister Samuel A. Jinapor charged Ghanaians to protect the environment by disengaging in illegal mining.

“Mining is central to economic development; however, the destruction of our environment and river bodies due to the illegal act contradicts our duties as citizens. We have a duty to protect the environment.

"As a ministry, we are determined to stop the activities of illegal mining in the country and will continue to employ all necessary measures to fight it. This yearly award scheme instituted for the best small-scale mining concessions is an initiative to reward best practices and encourage other miners to emulate”.

He further noted that the responsible small-scale mining sector could contribute to livelihood empowerment and poverty alleviation of the people.

“Small-scale mining has the potential to contribute to livelihood empowerment and poverty alleviation in Ghana, therefore, government intends to put in measures such as establishing Minerals Development Bank that will address the needs of small-scale miners”.