The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has disclosed that the Attorney-General is prosecuting close to 1500 cases of illegal mining which are currently at various stages of prosecution.
Speaking to the media on Friday, October, 10, 2025, the Director of Communications at the Ministry, Mawusi Ama Mawuenyefia said the arrests which were made by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat within the last nine months demonstrates government’s will to the fight.
She added that NAIMOS has confiscated several excavators, changfang machines, water pumping machines and generators since January 2025.
“We have also confiscated some changfang machines, some heavy-duty water pumps, some generators, some Land Cruiser vehicles, shovels, pick axes, mobile phones, Indian hemp, mercury, torchlight and a whole lot of things.
“We are also clear to say the law is the law and if you break the law, there will be consequences. We have seen some several arrests over the period. We are talking close to 1500 arrests over the period and the Attorney-General is working on prosecutions,” she stated.
She disclosed that a bill to establish special tribunal courts to facilitate prosecution of illegal miners will be laid in Parliament when the House resumes.
Mawusi emphasised that government is resolved to ending the galamsey menace.
“This week in Cabinet, there was a bill that was laid for Special Tribunal courts for specialized cases and you can bet that illegal mining is going to be one of them. So, in the coming days when Parliament resumes, we are going to see that Bill laid and we are going to see faster prosecutions for illegal mining cases as we go along.
“There is political will and this government is resolved and unwavering in their commitment to bringing an end to this threat,” she said.
She noted that currently, the Ministry has deployed 400 NAIMOS personnel to the security zones and the hotspots to prevent the illegal miners from returning to these sites.
She announced to the public a number (0240700487) for persons to report activities of illegal mining to NAIMOS.
