A stakeholders’ dialogue on Responsible Cooperative Mining for Newmont Ahafo South host communities has been held at Goaso in the Ahafo Region.
The engagement forms part of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited’s Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) Strategy, aimed at promoting sustainable and lawful mining practices within its operational areas.
The meeting brought together officials from the Minerals Commission, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Water Resources Commission, and the Department of Co-operatives. Also in attendance were representatives from Newmont Ghana, traditional leaders, the Asutifi North District Assembly, small-scale miners, and youth leaders from the various mining communities.
The delegation from the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) was led by the National Coordinator, Ing. Frank Asare Pedro Esq, accompanied by the Deputy Coordinator in charge of Operations, Mr. George Dadzie Jnr, Protocol Officer, Mr. Kalayi Joseph Kwabena, and Assistant Registrar at the Department of Co-operatives, Mr. Abubakar Abdul-Malik.
Addressing the gathering, Ing. Frank Asare Pedro outlined the objectives, mission, and key pillars of rCOMSDEP. He emphasized the need for responsible mining and urged small-scale miners to refrain from engaging in illegal mining activities that harm the environment and local communities.
Officials from the various regulatory agencies also took participants through the processes involved in acquiring mining licenses and permits. They stressed the importance of adhering to all legal procedures to ensure responsible and sustainable mining operations.
Director for Sustainability Projects at Newmont Ghana, Mrs. Charlotte Tay Senyo, disclosed that the company is working to cede part of its concession to the host communities for the Cooperative Mining Programme. She explained Newmont’s expectations for the initiative and urged the miners to comply with all responsible mining standards. A roadmap for the project was subsequently developed in collaboration with the stakeholders.
The following day, November 5, 2025, the team met with traditional leaders at the palace of the Omanhene of Kenyasi No. 1. Ing. Frank Asare Pedro further explained the mission of the Responsible Cooperative Mining initiative to the Nananom, while Mrs. Tay Senyo expressed appreciation to the traditional leaders for their commitment to ending illegal mining. Newmont representatives presented a site plan of the proposed area for the programme to facilitate the acquisition of the necessary permits from the relevant regulatory bodies.
The Omanhene of Kenyasi No. 1, Nana Osei Kofi Abiri, on behalf of the traditional leaders, expressed gratitude to Newmont for releasing a portion of its concession to the community. He assured the company of their full cooperation through the Newmont Ahafo Development Foundation (NADeF) to ensure that all host communities benefit from the initiative. He also urged the youth and small-scale miners to take advantage of the opportunity and avoid illegal mining activities.
The dialogue concluded with a joint inspection of the proposed mining site by all participating agencies. Stakeholders pledged to work together to ensure the successful implementation of the Responsible Cooperative Mining Programme in the Ahafo South Mine host communities.
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