The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has raised grave concern over two persistent obstacles that continue to undermine its mission to rescue the nation’s forests, farmlands and water bodies from the destructive grip of illegal miners, popularly known as galamseyers.
The Secretariat has identified logistical constraints and interference from influential individuals—including some traditional authorities and political actors—as major impediments to its operations.
Addressing Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in the Western Region, the Deputy Director of Operations, Lt. Col. Joshua Satekla, warned that despite the government’s intensified crackdown, the anti-galamsey campaign continues to suffer troubling setbacks.
According to him, persistent interference by powerful individuals, coupled with inadequate logistics, “undermine operational effectiveness and embolden illegal miners.”
Influential Interference Adds Pressure
Lt. Col. Satekla noted that, like many national institutions, NAIMOS faces challenges from stakeholders whose influence hampers field operations.
“Interference from influential people like chiefs, politicians and other actors in the areas where we operate is a big problem,” he lamented.
He added that improvised operational systems, particularly the movement of vehicles over long distances, frequently result in breakdowns and delays. These are the two biggest challenges militating against our mission.”
Renewed Efforts Despite Setbacks
Despite these pressures, NAIMOS is rolling out renewed efforts to intensify the fight against illegal mining, beginning with the deployment of an initial batch of fifty officers to the Western Region.
The deployment is part of a harmonised national strategy aimed at clamping down on illegal mining, restoring degraded lands and safeguarding the country’s threatened water resources.
The officers will be stationed in Ellembelle District, Ahanta West Municipality andWassa Amenfi East Municipality, described as strategic operational zones. They will also supervise anti-galamsey activities across adjoining districts.
Local Authorities Critical to Success
Lt. Col. Satekla emphasised that the success of the renewed operations depends heavily on the cooperation of local Assemblies.
“Without the support of the Assemblies, our work on enforcing no-go zones and dismantling illegal mining operations becomes extremely difficult,” he stressed.
He called for proactive collaboration, intelligence sharing and a coordinated response to ensure illegal miners do not exploit institutional gaps.
The briefing session—which also included two regional police commanders—provided NAIMOS with a platform to outline a unified operational framework designed to streamline enforcement and eliminate fragmentation among state actors.
MMDCEs Pledge Support
MMDCEs who participated expressed confidence in the strengthened, intelligence-led strategy. Ellembelle DCE Joseph Agyekum, Prestea Huni-Valley MCE Mathew Ayeh, and Ahanta West MCE Ing. Ebenezer Kofi Aidoo pledged their commitment to the collaborative approach.
They expressed hope that the imminent deployment would halt the escalating destruction of farmlands, forest reserves and major rivers—areas that have been severely devastated by illegal mining.
The MMDCEs further reaffirmed their readiness to provide administrative support, logistical facilitation and community engagement essential to the success of operations.
A High-Stakes National Crisis
With illegal mining posing an ongoing national security threat and undermining long-term environmental sustainability, the latest efforts by NAIMOS are expected to mark a significant turning point in the country’s anti-galamsey fight.
The deployment of the first fifty officers is scheduled to begin in the coming days, raising public expectations that the renewed approach will help reclaim degraded landscapes and restore normalcy to affected communities.
