Mining engineer, Wisdom Gomashie, has challenged the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, to explain what he describes as glaring inconsistencies in official government records regarding the implementation of the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP).
According to Mr. Gomashie, the Minister owes Ghanaians a clear explanation for the programme’s slow implementation at a time when illegal mining continues to spread, causing widespread environmental degradation and pollution of major river bodies.
In a post commenting on the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review presented on July 28, 2026, Mr. Gomashie cited three separate official government documents which, he said, provide conflicting accounts of the programme’s progress.
He questioned why only one cooperative mining scheme has effectively been established after nearly two years, while illegal mining continues to flourish across the country.
Mr. Gomashie also demanded answers over the legal basis for the temporary mining permits reportedly being issued to persons found engaging in illegal mining, asking how such permits align with the government’s declared fight against illegal mining and Ghana’s mining laws.
He further queried the frequent changes in the leadership of the programme, noting that three different National Coordinators have been appointed and replaced within less than two years.
“What accounts for this revolving-door leadership? Does it reflect institutional instability, poor coordination, or a lack of strategic direction in implementing the programme?” he asked.
Mr. Gomashie pointed out that the 2026 Budget Statement informed Parliament that three Cooperative Mining Schemes had been launched at Obuasi, Bibiani and Anwia-Teleku Bokazo.
However, he said an official Right to Information (RTI) response issued by the Cooperative Mining Secretariat in May 2026 indicated that only the Anwia-Teleku Bokazo scheme had reached an advanced stage, with work on the other schemes still ongoing.
He further noted that the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review introduced yet another account, stating that the first Cooperative Mining Scheme was launched at Akyem Kotoku in June 2026.
Describing the conflicting reports as deeply troubling, Mr. Gomashie said the three official documents present “three different stories” on the same government programme.
He questioned which of the official accounts accurately reflects the status of rCOMSDEP and why government reports on such an important initiative continue to contradict one another.
According to him, the inconsistencies undermine public confidence and raise serious concerns about transparency, accountability and the effective implementation of the government’s strategy to combat illegal mining through cooperative mining schemes.
