The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, through its Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), has shut down an illegal mining operation in the Jomoro District of the Western Region that was being falsely presented as an official project site.
The operation, carried out in collaboration with National Security and the Police, followed intelligence that some individuals were exploiting the name of the programme to engage in unlawful mining activities under the guise of a licensed rCOMSDEP site.
Authorities say the intervention was triggered by a tip-off from concerned youth in the Ghana-Nungua-Apatase community, who raised alarm while en route to an area officially earmarked for the implementation of the rCOMSDEP initiative.
The Head of Communications at the Minerals Commission, Dela Edem, who confirmed the operation, clarified that the programme itself is not involved in any illegal activity, stressing that the abuse of its name was being perpetrated by individuals within the community.
He explained that the suspects had erected signage and branding suggesting official approval in a bid to legitimise their illegal mining activities.
“Cooperative mining is not engaged in any illegal activity. It is individuals in the community who have used the name to design a banner to engage in illegal mining,” he stated.
The Minerals Commission and security agencies say investigations are ongoing, while efforts are being intensified to prevent the misuse of government mining programmes and protect designated legal mining sites under rCOMSDEP.
