British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has commenced a four-day tour of three African nations, including Ghana, to strengthen future-focused and mutually beneficial partnerships.

One of the highlights of his visit was the launch of the UK-Ghana Gold-Mining Program, for which the British government has allocated £3.9 million ($5 million). The program aims to support Ghana's efforts in formalizing and regulating its small-scale mining sector while promoting responsible environmental practices.

This initiative was agreed upon during the UK-Ghana Security Dialogue in London last year and is set to span three years. It will complement Ghana's existing endeavors to enhance the small-scale mining sector, including community mining schemes and initiatives for alternative employment and livelihoods for artisanal small-scale miners.

During the launch, James Cleverly expressed his pride in the UK's collaboration with Ghana to ensure that criminal activities do not prosper in the country. After his visit to Ghana, the foreign secretary is scheduled to travel to Nigeria on Tuesday and conclude his tour in Zambia on Thursday. Photo by Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0, Wikimedia commons.