Responsible Cooperative Mining Team Expresses Excitement as River Tano Shows Signs of Recovery, Praises President Mahama

The Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) has expressed excitement over the improving condition of River Tano, one of Ghana’s most important water bodies, following intensified national efforts to promote responsible mining practices across the country.

According to the team, the visible improvement in the river’s condition is a direct reflection of the leadership and commitment of President John Dramani Mahama and the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Kofi Armah Buah, whose policies and initiatives have strengthened the national campaign for responsible and sustainable mining.

rCOMSDEP, which operates under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, is mandated to promote responsible mining and curb illegal mining (galamsey) activities nationwide.

During a recent field tour of mining communities in the Western North Region, the National Deputy Coordinator of rCOMSDEP Operations, Mr. George Dadzie, commended the visible progress, noting that River Tano’s water now appears cleaner and in better condition than before.

“This is what we expect after all the awareness we have been creating on responsible mining,”

— Mr. George Dadzie, National Deputy Coordinator, rCOMSDEP Operations.

Mr. Dadzie reaffirmed rCOMSDEP’s unwavering commitment to promoting responsible and sustainable mining, stressing that although progress is encouraging, continuous collaboration among all stakeholders is needed to maintain and expand these environmental gains.

“Our mission is to ensure that miners adopt best practices that protect the environment while ensuring economic benefits for all. We will not relent in our efforts to engage, educate, and monitor mining operators until we see continuous improvement,” he emphasized.

The Responsible Cooperative Mining team, led by Deputy Director George Dadzie, has been touring several districts in the Western North Region, including Bibiani, Sefwi Wiawso, and Aowin, as part of its nationwide campaign to promote responsible mining and environmental conservation.

The team noted that these engagements align with the government’s broader goal of restoring degraded lands, safeguarding water bodies, and protecting Ghana’s natural ecosystems.

rCOMSDEP further called on local authorities, traditional leaders, and mining cooperatives to strengthen their collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to eliminate illegal mining and preserve the nation’s rivers and forest reserves for future generations.