The Chief of Wassa Damang, Nana Enimere Kwaw II, is championing a bold grassroots transformation agenda that seeks to turn mining waste into a vehicle for job creation, innovation, and sustainable development.
At the heart of his proposal is a $20 million Damang Mining Community Development Hub, which is set to be launched as a catalyst for economic diversification and youth empowerment through value addition in the mining sector.
Speaking to journalists, Nana Kwaw II said the initiative was not just a call for community participation in mining but a strategic rethinking of what constitutes mining wealth.
“Mine waste is often overlooked, but when processed responsibly, it can be converted into tiles, glass, residual gold, and other industrial inputs,” he explained. “This is untapped potential sitting in our backyard.”
He called on government to mainstream community cooperative mining into Ghana’s broader mining policy framework, stressing that the Wassa Damang model could serve as a national blueprint.
The Chief revealed that his traditional council had been in discussions with potential investors who are keen to partner on sustainable value chains around mine waste reuse, with a focus on entrepreneurship, manufacturing, and environmentally safe practices.
He emphasized that incorporating cooperative mining schemes into national planning would allow state agencies to regulate artisanal activities more effectively, while creating an enabling environment for communities to generate wealth locally.
“This isn’t just about gold. It’s about empowering communities to create value from what has been discarded. We are showing that responsible mining can coexist with community development,” Nana Kwaw II stated.
The planned Damang Mining Community Development Hub will host processing and training centres, small-scale industrial units, and research support to stimulate innovation within the local economy.
If successful, the Damang experience could become a case study in how Ghana can reimagine resource governance—where mining doesn’t leave communities behind, but lifts them up.
“We are ready. The time is right. Let us transform mine waste into community wealth,” the chief urged, appealing to policymakers, private investors, and development agencies to support the initiative.
