The Director of Operations at the National Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), on Tuesday, engaged members of the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners at the Atiwa East District Assembly Hall in Anyinam, Eastern Region.

The meeting, which was organized at the invitation of the Ghana Association of Small-Scale Miners, brought together key stakeholders including Mr. Godwin Armah, General Secretary of the Association; Mr. Abdul-Razak Alhassan, Director of Communications for the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners; Regional Executives of the Association; the Eastern Regional Security Liaison, Mr. Francis Annoh Dompreh; and his deputy responsible for illegal mining, Mr. David Tettey.

The NAIMOS delegation was led by the Director of Operations and included Mr. Lionel Anim Boateng (Labo), Deputy Director of Research, Evaluation and Public Affairs at NAIMOS, as well as a few soldiers from the Secretariat.

Addressing the gathering, the Director expressed his appreciation to the organizers for the invitation, extending special thanks to the association’s General Secretary, Mr. Armah, for facilitating the engagement. He began on an energetic and passionate note, emphasizing that NAIMOS’s mission is not to fight genuine miners but to ensure that mining is conducted responsibly, sustainably, and within the confines of the law. “I am not here to fight anyone,” he stated firmly, “but if anyone brings a fight, he will surely get one.”

He explained that NAIMOS was formed after a series of stakeholder deliberations convened by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources. A five-member advisory team worked tirelessly, often late into the night, to develop a robust framework to address illegal mining. Their recommendations, which were later approved by the Minister, were built on three core pillars: Prevention, Restoration, and Sustainability.

The Director passionately spoke about the environmental and health impacts of illegal mining, citing the alarming example of fish dying in rivers due to pollution and the detection of high mercury levels in crops. He warned that continued contamination of water bodies and farmlands could lead to serious health crises, including cancer, neurological disorders, and limb loss. “We will lose our country if things continue the way they are going,” he cautioned.

He expressed concern over the closure of the Kyebi Water Treatment Plant, a direct result of galamsey, noting that such activities not only destroy the environment but also threaten national critical infrastructure. This, he said, underscores the urgency of coordinated action to protect Ghana’s natural resources and ensure the sustainability of water supply systems across the country.

The Director stressed that galamsey in forest reserves, in rivers, near roads, under pylons, and along railway lines is strictly prohibited, as such practices destroy vital ecosystems and jeopardize national development.

He further explained that NAIMOS was designed to provide an effective and coordinated national response to illegal mining. Unlike past initiatives, NAIMOS brings together all relevant security and regulatory agencies to ensure that enforcement, intelligence gathering, and community engagement are harmonized. “NAIMOS is open to everyone, including civil society organisations, the media, and the public at large. If any of our personnel are caught extorting money, report them — Ghana is a country of laws,” he said.

He urged small-scale miners to operate transparently and within the legal framework by acquiring the appropriate licenses — reconnaissance, prospecting, and mining — from the Minerals Commission. He lamented the impatience of some miners who skip these stages and begin excavation illegally.

Reiterating NAIMOS’s commitment to enforcing the law, he declared that any illegal mining site encountered would have all machinery and equipment destroyed or immobilized. 

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