By Emmanuel Gamson, GNA
Dominase (W/R), Aug. 25, GNA – The Community Partnerships for Citizens Action and Development (COPCAD), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has distributed rabbits to some residents of Dominase in the Mpohor-Fiase District of the Western Region to provide alternative source of livelihoods to illegal mining.
The distribution formed part of the second phase of the NGO’s piloting of its Sustainable Communities Against Illegal Mining (SCAIM) project.
The project, being implemented with funding support from the KGL Foundation, sought to promote rabbit farming as a sustainable, eco-friendly, and inclusive alternative livelihood, targeting communities economically and environmentally impacted by galamsey.
It targets the youth, particularly those in galamsey-affected communities, young girls, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), and women among other vulnerable groups.
It would also promote community-based monitoring and advocacy systems to discourage destructive mining practices and protect natural resources.
Mr Nii Ankonu Annorbah-Sarpei, Programmes Manager at KGL Foundation, during the distribution of the rabbits at Dominase said galamsey continued to be a major environmental crisis in the Mpohor-Fiase District and the country in general, and called for a collective action from all stakeholders to tackle.
He said: “We at KGL Foundation continue to invest in the SCAIM project because we see that as a viable alternative means for communities to realise that they can generate some monies through other ways either than the galamsey.”
He stated that rabbit rearing was one of the viable businesses that families could venture into to generate incomes to improve upon their living standards.
Mr Annorbah-Sarpei said the lessons and success of the second phase of the piloting would help the Foundation to support the COPCAD to scale up the project to more communities so people could become economically independent and take care of their households without resorting to galamsey.
Mr Alfred Aggrey, a Project Officer at COPCAD, said the project was to help build resilient communities that could thrive without depending on illegal mining activities.
He asked the beneficiaries to put in much effort to manage the rabbits well to ensure the success of the project.
Nana Kofi Adusa II, Chief of Adum Dominase, lauded the NGO and its partners for the initiative, and said it would help bridge the unemployment gap that influenced the youth to engage in galamsey activities.
He also encouraged beneficiaries to take proper care for the rabbits so that the project could achieve its outcomes for full roll-out.
As part of the project, the beneficiaries have been assigned a veterinary officer in the community to help ensure proper supervision and management of the rabbits.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga/Linda Asante Agyei
Reporter: Emmanuel Gamson