In exclusive interview during the Mining in Motion Summit 2025 in Ghana, Cornew highlighted the transformative impact small-scale miners can have on economic growth if empowered by government and large-scale miners.

“Small miners account for 95% of the global mining workforce, yet produce only 20% of the world’s gold. Imagine if large-scale miners helped provide that 95% with access to technology, expertise, and financing, they could transform communities and multiply the sector’s impact,” stated Cornew.

Cornew stressed that partnering with artisanal and small-scale mining (ASGM) players should not only be a matter of social responsibility for large scale miners but also a strategy to create value and enhance productivity. He also urged governments to accelerate efforts to formalize the ASGM sector to make it more accessible to private investment and technical support.

“There’s still a major gap between the current level of formalization and what’s needed for banks and funders to engage. That delay is holding back miners from getting the equipment and skills they need,” he explained.

Cornew highlighted how Mwamba Mining is addressing these gaps by giving miners access to modern technology, supporting project identification through drilling, and providing centralized, mercury-free processing plants.

Watch the full video interview here.