Story By: Nii Okpoti Odamtten & Muhammad Faisal Mustapha…
The battle against illegal mining in Ghana reached a significant turning point in Accra as the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) witnessed a change in operational leadership amid reports of major gains in the country’s ongoing anti-galamsey campaign.
The occasion was not merely a ceremonial transfer of authority. It was a moment that reflected the immense challenges, sacrifices and victories recorded in one of Ghana’s most critical national security and environmental protection missions.
Over the past year, NAIMOS conducted an impressive 263 anti-galamsey operations across various regions of the country, resulting in the arrest of 354 individuals and the seizure of more than 110 excavators used in illegal mining activities.
The figures, announced during the handing over ceremony, underscored the scale of a crisis that has threatened Ghana’s rivers, forests and agricultural lands for years while highlighting the government’s determination to confront the menace.
As outgoing Director of Operations, Colonel Dominic Buah formally handed over responsibilities to Colonel A.S. Appiah, government officials described the transition as a renewal of commitment rather than a change in direction.
Addressing dignitaries, security personnel and stakeholders, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, characterized the event as the transfer of a national responsibility entrusted to those willing to defend Ghana’s natural heritage.
He noted that illegal mining had transformed into a highly organized and financially sophisticated enterprise by the time the current administration assumed office, making the challenge more complex than many had anticipated.
According to the Minister, criminal networks involved in illegal mining had expanded their operations into environmentally sensitive areas, threatening water bodies, forest reserves and farming communities.
Despite the enormity of the challenge, Hon. Buah expressed optimism that government interventions were beginning to yield tangible results.
“We are not yet where we want to be, but we are winning the fight against illegal mining,” the Minister declared, drawing applause from participants at the ceremony.
His remarks reflected growing confidence within government circles that coordinated enforcement efforts are gradually disrupting illegal mining networks that once operated with apparent impunity.
The Minister praised the outgoing NAIMOS leadership and operational teams for their resilience and dedication, noting that many officers spent weeks in remote and dangerous locations while carrying out their assignments.
He emphasized that their sacrifices often came at great personal cost, requiring extended periods away from their families while confronting heavily armed and determined illegal mining operators.
For Hon. Buah, however, the true measure of success extends beyond statistics.
“The ultimate victory will not be measured by excavators seized or arrests made, but by our ability to restore and protect Ghana’s rivers and forests for future generations.”
Providing a detailed operational overview, Colonel Dominic Buah revealed that 197 Ghanaian nationals and 157 foreign nationals were arrested during anti-galamsey operations conducted under his leadership.
The suspects, he explained, were subsequently handed over to the Ghana Police Service and immigration authorities for further investigation and prosecution.
Beyond arrests, NAIMOS recorded substantial seizures of equipment used to facilitate illegal mining activities.
According to Colonel Buah, the secretariat confiscated 116 earth moving machines, including 110 excavators, three bulldozers, three payloaders and one tractor from various illegal mining sites nationwide.
The operations also resulted in the seizure of 67 vehicles and 91 motorbikes believed to have been deployed to support illicit mining activities.
Perhaps even more revealing was the scale of infrastructure dismantled during the operations.
Colonel Buah disclosed that more than 4,500 makeshift structures established by illegal miners were destroyed as part of efforts to prevent the reoccupation of abandoned sites.
The operations also uncovered an alarming security dimension to illegal mining activities.
NAIMOS recovered 144 assorted weapons and 1,854 rounds of ammunition from mining locations, highlighting the growing militarization of some illegal mining networks.
“The presence of such weapons demonstrates the dangerous environment within which our officers operate and the evolving nature of the threat,” Colonel Buah observed.
His assessment reinforced concerns that illegal mining has become more than an environmental issue, increasingly presenting challenges associated with organized crime and national security.
The ceremony also provided an opportunity to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
Minister for the Interior, Hon. Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, paid tribute to two officers who lost their lives while participating in anti-galamsey operations, describing them as national heroes whose service would never be forgotten.
Their sacrifice served as a solemn reminder that the fight against illegal mining remains a high-risk mission requiring courage, commitment and unwavering patriotism.
In a move aimed at maximizing public benefit from confiscated equipment, Hon. Muntaka announced that approximately 70 seized excavators would soon be transferred to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to assist in the desilting of drains across the country.
He further assured citizens that comprehensive records of confiscated machinery would be made public to guarantee transparency and accountability in the management of seized assets.
“Transparency is essential. The public deserves to know what has been seized, where it is, and how it is being used for national development.”
The Interior Minister stressed that government institutions alone could not defeat illegal mining and called on local communities to become active participants in safeguarding the environment.
He urged traditional leaders, youth groups, civil society organizations and residents of mining communities to support security agencies by providing intelligence and resisting the temptation to shield illegal operators.
As one chapter closed and another began, attention shifted to the incoming Director of Operations, Colonel A.S. Appiah, who inherits both the achievements and challenges of the anti-galamsey campaign.
In his acceptance remarks, Colonel Appiah pledged to strengthen intelligence led operations, deepen collaboration among security agencies and enhance operational efficiency across all regions.
He described illegal mining as one of the most significant threats confronting Ghana’s environmental security and sustainable development agenda.
According to him, the continued destruction of forests, contamination of rivers and degradation of fertile lands pose long term consequences that future generations cannot afford to inherit.
“Protecting our environment is not simply a government obligation; it is a national duty that requires collective action from all stakeholders,” Colonel Appiah stated.
He assured the nation that NAIMOS would remain professional, accountable and resolute in executing its mandate while building stronger partnerships with traditional authorities, local communities and international development partners.
As Ghana intensifies its efforts to reclaim polluted rivers and degraded forests, the leadership transition at NAIMOS symbolizes both continuity and renewed determination.
For many observers, the statistics presented at the ceremony tell a story of progress. Yet the larger story remains one of a nation striving to balance economic opportunity with environmental stewardship.
The road ahead may still be difficult, but the message emerging from Accra was unmistakable: Ghana’s war against illegal mining is far from over, and under new leadership, the fight is entering a decisive new phase.