Dominase: Some residents at Dominase community in the Mpohor-Fiase District of the Western Region have undergone rabbit rearing training as an alternative source of livelihoods to illegal mining (galamsey) activities in the area.

According to Ghana News Agency, the training was provided by the Community Partnerships for Citizens Action and Development (COPCAD), a non-governmental organization, under its Sustainable Communities Against Illegal Mining (SCAIM) project. The project, funded by the KGL Foundation, aimed to promote rabbit farming as a sustainable, eco-friendly, and inclusive alternative livelihood. It specifically targeted communities economically and environmentally impacted by illegal mining.

The initiative focused on the youth, particularly those in galamsey-affected communities, young girls, Persons with Disabilities, and women among other vulnerable groups. It also sought to promote community-based monitoring and advocacy systems to discourage destructive mining practices and protect natural resources.

The training was part of the piloting phase of the SCAIM project, where beneficiaries were provided with three rabbits, feeds, and other essentials as start-up kits. Mr. Alfred Aggrey, a Project Officer at COPCAD, emphasized the importance of providing alternative livelihoods due to the devastation caused by galamsey to water bodies, forest reserves, and the environment.

Aggrey highlighted that the project was about empowerment, environmental justice, and community-led change, aiming to educate, support, and uplift vulnerable groups to build resilient communities that do not depend on illegal mining activities. He encouraged beneficiaries to manage the rabbits well to ensure the project's success.

Mr. Nii Ankonu Annorbah-Sarpei, Programmes Manager at KGL Foundation, reiterated the environmental crisis caused by galamsey in the Mpohor-Fiase District and the need for stakeholder action. He expressed hope that the initiative would lead to economic independence for the participants, reducing their reliance on galamsey.

One of the beneficiaries, Mr. Richard Bukari-Pumi, expressed gratitude to COPCAD and its partners for the training and committed to ensuring the project's success to reduce dependence on illegal mining, while protecting water bodies and farmlands from further destruction.