By Felix Cofie
The Government of Ghana has officially launched the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) as part of intensified efforts to combat illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
The new secretariat, under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, will serve as the central coordinating body for all anti-illegal mining activities across the country. It is designed to provide a robust, intelligence-led framework to support the government’s ongoing crackdown on illegal mining, which has had devastating effects on the environment, water bodies, and public health.
In a statement issued by the Ministry and signed by its Director of Communications, Ama Mawusi Mawuenyefia, NAIMOS is described as the outcome of strategic collaboration among key national security stakeholders, including the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of the Interior, the National Security Council, and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
“No person, individual, or organized group is permitted to conduct any anti-illegal mining operation without the knowledge and approval of NAIMOS,” the statement emphasized.
The Ministry warned that any unauthorized swoops, raids, or operations conducted without clearance from the Secretariat are strongly discouraged and urged all individuals and organizations to comply with the new directive.
NAIMOS is expected to lead the charge in streamlining anti-galamsey operations, enhance intelligence-sharing among security agencies, and ensure that all efforts to reclaim degraded lands and polluted rivers are done within a lawful and coordinated framework.
The Ministry reiterated its commitment to restoring the country’s natural environment, combating climate change, and protecting water bodies from further destruction due to illegal mining activities.
