The Spokesperson of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), Paa Kwesi Schandorf, has categorically denied claims that its personnel were involved in the alleged shooting and killing of a young man at Akyem Hemang in the Eastern Region.
In a press release dated August 28, 2026, NAIMOS described as false media reports alleging that NAIMOS personnel were involved in the shooting and death of the young man.
The Secretariat said it did not conduct any operation at Akyem Hemang or within the area at the material time and stressed that no NAIMOS personnel had been deployed within that jurisdiction.
“For the avoidance of doubt,” the Secretariat said its operations are centrally coordinated and carried out in collaboration with other state security and intelligence agencies, including the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Bureau of National Investigations and the Narcotics Control Commission, among others.
NAIMOS said it was deeply concerned and find it regrettable that such a serious allegation involving the loss of human life was published and attributed to the Secretariat without prior verification.
According to the statement, a simple enquiry with NAIMOS before publication would have established that no operation involving the Secretariat had taken place in the area.
The Secretariat has therefore called on other media organisations that carried the allegation to immediately retract the report, correct the record and issue an appropriate apology.
NAIMOS further cautioned the public against automatically attributing the activities of persons in uniform or anti-illegal mining operations to the Secretariat, stressing that the mere presence of uniformed personnel at a mining location does not necessarily constitute a NAIMOS operation.
The Secretariat also reassured the public that its personnel remain professional and committed to carrying out their duties within the rules and regulations governing their operations.
NAIMOS appealed to the media and the general public to verify information before publication and to continue supporting efforts to combat illegal mining and safeguard Ghana’s water bodies, forests and other natural resources.
