The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has stated that its newly-launched initiative, rCOMSDEP, is aimed at tackling the root causes of illegal mining by offering alternative livelihood pathways and skills development for unemployed youth in mining-prone areas.

Speaking on JoyPrime’s Prime Morning Show on Monday, September 1, the Ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Paa Kwasi Schandorf, explained the Responsible Community Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), describing it as a two-pronged solution to the persistent challenge of illegal mining, locally referred to as "galamsey".

“This particular programme, RCOMSDEP, is coming in to solve a particular problem,” Mr Schandorf stated.

“That problem is the fact that for a good number of people who do illegal mining, their justification has been the fact that they don’t have an immediate economic activity. They are unemployed, that is why they are compelled to…”

According to Mr Schandorf, rCOMSDEP is designed to offer legitimate employment opportunities for two categories of individuals: those interested in continuing within the mining sector and those seeking alternative vocations.

• Read also: rCOMSDEP will curb galamsey – Lands Ministry

“For those who still want to be involved in mining, it gives you the opportunity to do so, however from a very responsible perspective,” he explained. “But it is not everybody who wants to do mining, so that is where we come to the skills development programmes.”

The skills development component of the programme, Mr Schandorf noted, will initially focus on equipping participants with basic soft skills and artisanal trades.

Although full details of the modules are yet to be released, the programme is expected to expand into more technical areas as implementation progresses.

“There is an entire module that also will be fleshed out as we progress, but for now, the skills are basically the soft hand skills that we all know,” he added.

He further explained that rCOMSDEP is expected to complement enforcement efforts by addressing the economic desperation that often pushes individuals into illegal mining activities.

The Ministry believes that creating viable, sustainable alternatives will be key to reducing the allure of unlawful mining practices.