Ghana Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources issued 55 small scale mining licences to beneficiaries of the Community Mining Scheme.
Twenty-two of the licences are located at Nsiana and Manso-Nkwanta in the Ashanti Region, covering an area of 554 acres and 17 at Akoase in the Eastern Region covering 428 acres of land.
Also, seven licences have been located at Mempehia in the Ahafo Region covering 176 acres, six at Tinga in the Savannah Region covering 151 acres and three at Abosso in the Western Region covering an area of 75 acres.
The new scheme is introduced by government to allow host mining communities engage in lawful mining and address underlying causes of illegal mining within mining areas across the country.
Launching the scheme at Nsania in the Amansie West District on June 3, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, said the scheme, was a novel intervention that encourages persons in mining communities to undertake meaningful mining ventures and ensure sustainable livelihoods for the beneficiaries.
Minister said: “As provided for within the small scale mining, the scheme is reserved for only Ghanaian citizens but with an emphasis on host mining communities. Simply put, the scheme is of the people, by the people, for the people of the community.”
Minister also noted that one key point of the scheme is the creation of 16,000 jobs which could positively impact local and rural economies.
