By Godwill Arthur-Mensah, GNA
Accra, Oct. 22, GNA – Colonel Kwame Sam Appiah, Director of Operations at the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), has assured Ghanaians that the Secretariat is making significant progress in fighting against illegal mining and will continue to pursue offenders without fear or favour.
Speaking at the maiden press conference on the Secretariat’s operations, in Accra on Thursday, Col. Appiah said NAIMOS remained committed to dismantling illegal mining networks, protecting critical water bodies and forest reserves, and supporting environmental recovery across the country.
“We will deal decisively and ruthlessly against illegal mining networks and individuals involved in the menace without fear or favour,” he stated.
He appealed to the media, civil society organisations and local communities to support the anti-galamsey campaign by providing credible information to assist ongoing operations.
Col. Appiah said the Secretariat’s interventions had been expanded to include illegal sand winning and stone mining activities, noting that such operations posed serious threats to land, water bodies and surrounding communities.
He announced that under Operation Water Shield, which began along the Birim River in July and has since moved to the Ankobra River, NAIMOS planned to extend operations to two additional major river systems before the end of the year.
“For good reasons, I will not mention which river bodies, but before the end of the year, we will be tackling two major river bodies as part of Operation Water Shield,” he said.
The Director explained that the next phase of the operation would focus on securing reclaimed areas to prevent illegal miners from returning after enforcement operations.
He disclosed that NAIMOS, in collaboration with the Ghana Navy, intended to deploy a dedicated riverine unit on the Ankobra River following ongoing security operations.
“Its role will be to sustain patrols, deter the return of Changfan operators and consolidate the gains achieved,” he said.
Col. Appiah announced plans to launch Operation Green Shield, a forest protection intervention beginning at the Atiwa Forest Reserve to combat illegal mining and safeguard strategic watersheds.
He said the operation would follow a three-stage approach of clearing and disrupting illegal activities, stabilising affected areas and eventually transitioning protection responsibilities to the Forestry Commission.
“The intended outcome is a reserve in which priority hotspots have been cleared and stabilised, with routine protection progressively transferred to Forestry Commission guards,” he stated.
According to him, NAIMOS’ broader strategy seeks to secure watersheds and river systems from source to estuary through intelligence-led, joint and inter-agency operations.
He said the Secretariat’s ultimate goal was to achieve substantial reductions in illegal mining activities, disrupt criminal networks, and establish sustainable monitoring mechanisms to protect vulnerable ecosystems.
Presenting operational data, Col. Appiah said that between June 13, when he assumed office, and September 30, NAIMOS conducted 738 operational activities covering approximately 50,662 kilometres nationwide.
The operations included reconnaissance missions, mobile and riverine patrols, raids, special operations and community engagement activities.
He said the operations spanned the Western, Western North, Central, Eastern, Ashanti, Bono, Ahafo, Savannah and Northern operational zones.
During the period, NAIMOS recovered 74 firearms and 551 rounds of ammunition and seized excavators, pumps, vehicles and other machinery used in illegal mining activities.
The Director disclosed that about 1,970 Changfans and 863 makeshift structures linked to illegal mining had been destroyed, significantly disrupting illegal mining infrastructure and operations.
Suspects arrested during the various operations were handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigations and prosecution, he said.
“Our responsibility extends to preserving evidence and supporting the justice process so that enforcement can produce credible deterrence,” Col. Appiah noted.
He explained that NAIMOS’ operations were supported by a network of forward operating bases and temporary operating bases nationwide to sustain pressure on illegal mining hotspots and protect reclaimed areas.
He cited bases at Esiama, Sefwi Bekwai and Agona in the Western Region; Asankrangwa in the Western North Region; and Akyem Oda in the Eastern Region, among others, as key centres supporting anti-galamsey activities.
Col. Appiah said the government, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, had committed resources and logistical support to sustain the Secretariat’s operations.
He stressed that intelligence gathering, field enforcement, investigations and prosecution would continue to work together to ensure offenders were held accountable.
“Professionalism and public trust are essential to our operational success. I remain committed to accountability, integrity, and disciplined conduct,” he said.
Col. Appiah reiterated that illegal mining continued to threaten water security, agricultural livelihoods, forest ecosystems and public safety, adding that NAIMOS would strengthen community engagement as a key pillar of its strategy.
“We must judge our progress by whether cleared areas remain secure, illegal activity declines, cases advance through the justice system and environmental recovery becomes measurable,” he said.
GNA
Edited by Linda Asante Agyei
Reporter: Godwill Arthur-Mensah
[email protected]