The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has directed the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations (NAIMOS) Task Force to deal ruthlessly with illegal miners as government intensifies its fight against galamsey.
Describing illegal mining as a national security threat, Mr. Buah stressed that the task force has the full backing of President John Mahama and must act with urgency and firmness.
“Any recalcitrant who enters these restricted zones is not just a trespasser but an enemy of the state. Be firm, resolute, and ruthless. No so-called ‘big man’ is above the law. The biggest man in Ghana is the President and he is the one who has sent you,” he declared in Sunyani on Sunday, September 28, 2025.
He assured the public that the government would employ every available measure to protect the country’s lands and water bodies from destruction.
Deputy Director of Operations at the Presidency, Mustapha Gbande, also urged security personnel to enforce the law without fear or favour, warning against political interference.
“The most powerful person in this country, the President, is fully backing you on this mission. The NDC does not and will not support what the President himself condemns. In the bush or in a water body, there is no political colour. If anyone comes in the name of politics or even in the name of the President, arrest them,” he said.
The deployment of NAIMOS is expected to intensify nationwide operations to reclaim degraded lands and safeguard vital water resources from the devastating effects of galamsey.
