The Director of Operations at the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), Colonel Dominic Buah, has reiterated Government’s renewed efforts to clamp down on illegal mining, revealing an 87.7 per cent operational strike rate since July 2025.

Addressing the media at the ISD Press Centre in Accra, he said the figures demonstrated a clear shift from fragmented enforcement to coordinated, intelligence-led action.

Colonel Buah explained that illegal mining, widely known as galamsey, had evolved into an environmental crisis, threatening water bodies, forest reserves and livelihoods.

“This is no longer just an environmental issue; it is an existential threat to Ghana”, he emphasised.

Colonel Buah revealed that the Secretariat within ten months of operational had established a unified command structure, bringing together the military, police, immigration and intelligence services under a single operational framework.

This, he added, had significantly improved enforcement outcomes across all seven operational regions.

Achievements and Key Metrics

NAIMOS conducted 122 operations between July 2025 and March 2026, leading to 237 arrests, including 144 foreign nationals.

Colonel Buah highlighted that every operation is intelligence-driven and results-oriented, with 94 excavators seized and immobilised, alongside 2,647 chanfang platforms destroyed. 

He further disclosed that 59 firearms and 208 rounds of ammunition were recovered, underscoring the growing militarisation of illegal mining activities.

He added that early signs of environmental recovery had been recorded along rivers such as Ankobra and Ayensu where sustained enforcement was maintained.

Additionally, threats to personnel remain a major concern, with reported attacks, injuries and even fatalities during operations.

Operational Forecast for 2026
Looking ahead, Colonel Buah stated that NAIMOS would intensify nationwide operations with a focus on river bodies, forest reserves and mining corridors.

He announced plans for the phased deployment of nine permanent field task forces across key hotspots. 

“These deployments will ensure sustained presence rather than sporadic raids,” he explained,

The Director of Operations added that closer integration with the Blue Water Guards and enhanced training for personnel would be critical to improving operational efficiency.

“Regular rotation of task force members would also be implemented to prevent compromise and corruption”, Colonel Buah stated.

The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) was established in June 2025 by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources as a central coordinating body to lead Ghana’s fight against illegal mining through intelligence-led, multi-agency operations.

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