Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah and Ing Wisdom Edem Gomashie
Mining Consultant Ing. Wisdom Edem Gomashie is demanding answers from the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, over what he describes as serious inconsistencies in the government’s own accounts of the implementation of the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP).
In a detailed critique, Ing. Gomashie points to three official government documents which, he argues, present conflicting accounts of the programme’s progress and the establishment of Cooperative Mining Schemes.
He is consequently calling on the Minister to explain the discrepancies and provide clarity on the actual status of the programme, its leadership and the legal framework underpinning its implementation.
Below is the write-up
Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister for Lands & Natural Resources owes Ghanaians an explanation regarding the implementation of the Responsible Cooperative Mining & Skills Development Programme
THREE OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS, THREE DIFFERENT STORIES. Which one should Ghanaians believe?
- The 2026 Budget told Parliament that three Cooperative Mining Schemes had been launched at Obuasi, Bibiani and Anwia-Teleku Bokazo.
- An official RTI response from the Cooperative Mining Secretariat in May 2026, later indicated that only Anwia-Teleku Bokazo had reached an advanced stage, with work on other schemes still ongoing.
- Now, the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review states that the first Cooperative Mining Scheme was launched at Akyem Kotoku in June 2026.
These contradictory official records raise serious questions.
^ Which official account is correct?
^Why are Government’s reports inconsistent?
^If only one scheme has effectively been established after nearly two years, what explains the slow implementation while illegal mining continues to spread?
^ What is the legal basis for the temporary mining permits reportedly being granted to illegal miners encountered at illegal mining sites, and how do these permits align with Government’s fight against illegal mining and the mining laws of Ghana?
^ Why has the Minister repeatedly appointed and replaced three different National Coordinators for rCOMSDEP in less than two years? What accounts for this revolving-door leadership, and does it reflect institutional instability, poor coordination, or a lack of strategic direction in implementing the programme?
Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources-Ghana
