Nana Enimere Kwaw II, Chief of Wassa Damang in the Western Region, has made a strong appeal to the Government of Ghana to promote community cooperative mining as a strategic tool for inclusive, responsible, and sustainable local development.
He emphasized that cooperative mining, when managed by local communities with appropriate regulation and support, can empower grassroots populations, ensure environmentally responsible practices, and significantly boost economic growth in mining areas.
Wassa Damang, he noted, is well-positioned to serve as a pilot community for this initiative. By integrating the town into a cooperative mining framework, government agencies can more effectively monitor and support small-scale mining while safeguarding natural resources.
A central aspect of the initiative involves large-scale mining companies releasing mine waste materials to local communities for value-added activities.
Nana Enimere Kwaw II explained that these waste rocks, when processed, can be used to manufacture products like tiles, glass, and residual gold—opening up avenues for entrepreneurship, innovation, and job creation in Damang.
Under his leadership, the community has already attracted interest from potential investors eager to collaborate on mine waste transformation projects.
He revealed that Damang is on the cusp of securing a $20 million investment for the soon-to-be-launched Damang Mining Community Development Hub.
This hub will focus on training, innovation, and the development of mining-related value chains aimed at sustainable community development.
Nana Enimere Kwaw II stressed that the Damang model demonstrates the potential of cooperative mining when combined with visionary traditional leadership, government backing, and private sector participation.
He urged national authorities to adopt community cooperative mining as a nation-building strategy—not merely a mining policy—to foster shared prosperity and inclusive development across Ghana.
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