Nana Poku Bosompim, Western Region Director of Forestry Commission, has said that the illegal miners (Galamsey) are adopting new ways of going about their operations.
He says that these miners pick up information about the task force’s plan to storm their area and then pour petrol around. So as soon as the task force lights up the place to burn the chanfans, they end up sustaining injuries.
Speaking on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, November 22, he said, “We keep arresting, and the next day they go back; they are adopting a new modus operandi. We usually burn their gadgets, so now they pour petrol around and when we light up the area, our team end up burning, sustaining various degrees of injury. They pour petrol on the ground and once you light the area up, the whole area goes up, and you will be burned.”
He further indicated that the illegal miners are also tracking the task force.
“The Illegal miners are also tracking us; they get information ahead of time and prepare for us. They get the information, and they bring their own security, heavily built men with weapons.”
Meanwhile, a fatal accident near the Obuasi Airport area in the Ashanti Region has claimed the life of a taskforce member of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) with four others seriously injured.
The accident which occurred on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 happened while the team was undertaking a major anti-galamsey operation aimed at curbing the menace of illegal mining within the enclave.
A statement issued by Paa Kwesi Schandorf, Media Relations Officer of the Ministry on November 19, 2025 confirming the incident, said “tragically, one member of the taskforce has been confirmed dead, while the remaining four sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving medical care.”
“The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources regrets to announce that a team of five (5) members of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) was involved in a fatal motor accident today near the Obuasi Airport area,” the statement added.
The Ministry further mourned the loss of the NAIMOS taskforce member.
The Lands Minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah extended his profound sympathies to the family of the deceased and conveyed his heartfelt wishes for a swift recovery to the injured team members.
The Ministry has initiated a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to safeguarding the welfare of all frontline personnel and will ensure they receive the utmost support and care,” the statement concluded.
