UTAG condemns attack on NAIMOS officials, demands justice and stronger action against illegal mining

The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has condemned in the strongest terms the reported attack on the Director of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and his team, allegedly involving the Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo.

In a press statement signed by its National President, Prof. Vera O. Fiador, and National Secretary, Dr. Samuel Kingsford Seglah, UTAG described the incident as a “shocking affront to the rule of law” and a setback to Ghana’s fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.

According to the statement, the reported assault and subsequent unlawful release of suspects arrested for illegal mining not only undermine the country’s environmental protection efforts but also highlight the persistent issue of political interference and impunity in the enforcement of anti-galamsey laws.

“It is deeply troubling that such an act could emanate from a duty-bearer entrusted with upholding the law and advancing the national interest,” UTAG said, warning that the nation’s struggle against galamsey is being crippled by elite complicity and lack of accountability.

The Association stressed that illegal mining continues to cause irreversible damage to Ghana’s environment, including the pollution of water bodies, the destruction of arable lands, and the endangerment of public health and food security. UTAG said as academics, researchers, and citizens committed to national development, it cannot remain silent while the country’s natural heritage is destroyed.

UTAG therefore called for an independent and transparent investigation into the attack to ensure justice is served without fear or favour. The Association also urged Parliament and political parties to denounce all acts that embolden environmental lawlessness and to demonstrate genuine leadership in addressing the crisis.

Reaffirming its ongoing advocacy campaign against galamsey, UTAG noted that its initiative mobilizes over 7,000 university lecturers and researchers across the country to advance scientific, legal, and civic strategies for environmental restoration and good governance.

UTAG further encouraged citizens, traditional leaders, and civil society groups to collaborate with state institutions to safeguard Ghana’s remaining ecological resources and hold perpetrators accountable.

“The fight against illegal mining is not a partisan contest but a moral and generational duty,” the statement read. “The survival of our rivers, forests, and communities is inseparable from the survival of the Ghanaian nation itself.”

UTAG concluded by calling on all leaders—political, traditional, and institutional—to rise above partisan interests and take decisive action to defend the environment, uphold justice, and protect Ghana’s national dignity.