Nzema Paramount Chief Backs rCOMSDEP But Warns Against Using Programme as Cover for Galamsey

The Paramount Chief of the Western Nzema Traditional Area, Awulae Kwasi Amakye III, has expressed support for the government's Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), whilst sounding a firm warning that the initiative must not become a backdoor for illegal mining in his jurisdiction.

Officials from rCOMSDEP, led by National Coordinator Ms. Mawusi Ama Mawuenyafia, visited the Awulae at his palace to brief him on the programme, which falls under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. Ms. Mawuenyafia described rCOMSDEP as an evolution of the earlier community mining scheme, one that now gives traditional rulers a formal role in determining community priorities and setting binding conditions for investors seeking to operate in their areas.

"These agreements are officially documented, witnessed, and approved by rCOMSDEP before the Minister grants a mining lease," she told the chief, emphasising that skills development and job creation for local communities sit at the heart of the programme.

While welcoming the initiative, Awulae Amakye made his position on irresponsible mining unmistakably clear. "If you look at Ghana's mineral map, you will notice that the mining resources on my land remain largely untapped. I am not against mining, but until the right framework is in place, we will not permit mining here. My position has always been that we cannot trade our future for present needs if it is done irresponsibly," he stated.

Ms. Mawuenyafia assured the Paramount Chief that rCOMSDEP would work closely with the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) to crack down on galamsey and enforce responsible mining standards that deliver genuine benefits to host communities.

The Western Nzema Traditional Area lies in Ghana's Western Region, a zone historically rich in mineral and natural resources. The chief's conditional backing reflects a broader tension facing many Ghanaian traditional authorities — balancing economic development with the protection of land and livelihoods for future generations.