The Cooperative Development Agency (CDA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Mines and Energy has ended weeklong pre-cooperative formation training for Artisanal miners in Grand Gedeh County, southeast Liberia.
Providing an overview of the training, the director of training at the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Madam Jamba Keita said the exercise will help miners in terms of mineral recovery as well as improve their living condition.
She noted that artisanal miners had over the years been involved in mining activities that have had negative impacts on their lives.
She cautioned the miners to take the training seriously as the cooperatives will improve their system of work as well as increase mineral recovery or production, while helping to minimize challenges.
Cooperative Development Agency director of program Harris Wennie served as lead facilitator. He spoke on several topics, including Principals of Good Governance in Cooperative and the Characteristics of a Cooperative Society, among others.
Mr. Wennie informed the miners that they were going thru the first step that would led them to becoming a full-fledged cooperative provided, they met all requirements.
Another training director at the Ministry of Mines and Energy, James K. Mulbah said, formalization of artisanal miners into cooperatives has a potential to generate revenue for government.
He said more than 100,000 people live or depend on mining, so there is need to organize miners into cooperatives to improve their work, which will subsequently yield high recovery.
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Speaking on deforestation, Mr. Mulbah noted that individual miners will continue to destroy the forest but when miners are organized, it protects the forest.
Proposed cooperatives that participated in the training include Glio Twarbo Mining Cooperative Society and Chen Sonne Mining Cooperative Society. The training was conducted from July 1-6, 2020 in Zwedru City, Grand Gedeh County. Editing by Jonathan Browne
