Anti-galamsey mission continues as NAIMOS leadership changes hands

The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has conducted 263 anti-galamsey operations across the country within the past year, leading to the arrest of 354 individuals and the seizure of over 110 excavators as part of efforts to combat illegal mining.

The achievements were disclosed during a handing-over ceremony in Accra, where the outgoing Director of Operations of NAIMOS, Colonel Dominic Buah, officially transferred responsibility to his successor, Colonel A.S. Appiah.

Addressing the gathering, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, described the event as more than a routine change of leadership, saying it represented the transfer of a national mission to protect Ghana's rivers, forests and mineral resources.

He noted that when the current administration assumed office, illegal mining had evolved into a highly organized and well-financed operation that posed a serious threat to the country's environment and natural resources.

According to the Minister, although the fight against illegal mining is far from over, significant progress has been made. "We are not yet where we want to be, but we are winning the fight against illegal mining," he stated.

Hon. Buah commended the outgoing NAIMOS team for their sacrifices, dedication and courage in operating under difficult and dangerous conditions, often spending weeks away from their families to protect the nation's resources.

He stressed that the ultimate measure of success would not be the number of excavators seized or arrests made, but whether Ghana succeeds in restoring and protecting its rivers and forests for future generations.

Providing an operational update, Colonel Dominic Buah revealed that NAIMOS arrested 197 Ghanaians and 157 foreign nationals involved in illegal mining activities during its first year of operations. The suspects were handed over to the police and immigration authorities for further action.

He added that the secretariat seized 116 earth-moving machines, comprising 110 excavators, three bulldozers, three payloaders and a tractor. Additionally, 67 vehicles and 91 motorbikes linked to illegal mining operations were confiscated.

Colonel Buah disclosed that NAIMOS also dismantled more than 4,500 makeshift structures used by illegal miners and recovered 144 assorted weapons and 1,854 rounds of ammunition from mining sites across the country.

He explained that the seizure of weapons highlighted the growing security risks associated with illegal mining, describing the operation as one of the most challenging national security assignments undertaken in recent years.

The Minister for the Interior, Hon. Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, praised the outgoing leadership of NAIMOS and paid tribute to two officers who lost their lives in the line of duty during anti-galamsey operations.

He announced that about 70 seized excavators would soon be handed over to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) for the desilting of drains across the country. He further assured the public that details of all confiscated equipment would be published to ensure transparency and accountability.

Hon. Muntaka emphasized that government agencies alone could not win the battle against illegal mining and appealed to local communities to actively support the efforts of NAIMOS and other security agencies.

Taking over the leadership mantle, Colonel A.S. Appiah pledged to strengthen intelligence-led operations, improve inter-agency collaboration and enhance operational effectiveness in the fight against illegal mining.

He described galamsey as one of the greatest threats to Ghana's environmental security, warning that the destruction of forests, pollution of rivers and degradation of land posed serious risks to both present and future generations.

Colonel Appiah assured stakeholders that NAIMOS would remain professional, accountable and resolute in executing its mandate, while working closely with traditional authorities, local communities and development partners to safeguard the country's natural resources