More than 5,000 persons are expected to be directly employed at Kunsu in the AhafoAno South-West Municipality, following the launch of a new Community Mining Scheme (CMS), in the area, last Friday.

Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resource, George MirekuDuker, who launched the scheme which has five concessions, would curb unemployment and improve living standards. 

Addressing a gathering of chiefs and residents, Mr Duker urged miners to adhere strictly to the laws and safety regulations governing small-scale mining. 

Mr Duker commended the small-scale miners who voluntarily gave out their concessions to make the project possible. 

Cautioning against illegal mining, he said the CMS was an innovative mining programme which was initiated to replace illegal small-scale mining that had over the years posed various threats to the environment.

Mr Duker called on the miners to ensure responsible and sustainable mining practices to protect the country’s resources. 

He cautioned against the involvement of foreigners in the CMS, stressing that the innovation was meant to give Ghanaians more stake and benefit from the extractive industry. 

As part of effort to promote safety and environment-friendly mining methods, the Deputy Minister disclosed that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, would in the coming weeks, launch some mercury free mining equipment.

He tasked the Ahafo-Ano South West Municipal Assembly to ensure that responsible mining and safety measures were duly followed. 

The Member of Parliament (MP) for AhafoAno South-West, Johnson KwakuAdu, urged the people to work together and sustain the project.

 “Let’s all do well to follow the right path in order not to destroy our land and water resources. The purpose of this mining module is to protect our resources so let’s all obey,” he said.

A representative of the Asantehene, Otumfour Hiahene, Nana Prof.Oheneba Boachie-Adusei, said the CMS was a landmark project that would lead to jobs creation. 

One key way to sustaining it, he said, was to keep foreigners away from it and ensure the full party of community members.