The spokesperson for the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Paa Kwesi Schandorf, says the government is preparing to deploy the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) on a full-scale, permanent basis to areas heavily affected by illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
According to him, experience from previous operations shows that illegal miners often return to mining sites shortly after enforcement teams leave the areas.
“What has become apparent over the period is that anytime NAIMOS embarks on an operation, subsequently the illegal miners, out of their typical recalcitrance, go back to these areas,” he explained in an interview with the media.
Mr Schandorf noted that the recurring return of illegal miners suggests that local enforcement mechanisms in affected communities have not been sufficiently strengthened to prevent the activities from resurfacing.
To address this challenge, he said the government plans to station NAIMOS personnel permanently at key flashpoints where illegal mining activities are widespread.
“We want to deploy NAIMOS full scale across all relevant flashpoints where galamsey is very prevalent,” he said, adding that the personnel will remain stationed at the identified locations around the clock.
Under the proposed strategy, NAIMOS officers will operate on a 24-hour basis without evacuation or relocation, a move the ministry believes will significantly deter illegal miners from returning to affected sites.
“And so, what we want to do is to deploy NAIMOS full scale across all relevant flashpoints where galamsey is very prevalent. So, we are looking at deployment where the NAIMOS personnel will be stationed at the flashpoints 24/7 without any form of movement or evacuation,” he stated.
Mr Schandorf expressed confidence that the permanent presence of security personnel at galamsey hotspots would strengthen the government’s fight against illegal mining and help protect Ghana’s natural environment.
He said the ministry believes the strategy will produce meaningful results and help safeguard forests, rivers, and farmlands from further destruction caused by illegal mining activities.
“We believe that this will be very instrumental in efforts in the fight against illegal mining because the permanence of the personnel will surely deter the illegal miners, and that will give us the result that can satisfy our aspirations of keeping our environment away from these destructors,” he added.
