The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has instructed the newly deployed Anti-Galamsey Taskforce to adopt a strict and uncompromising stance in the fight against illegal mining.
Addressing the passing-out ceremony of 400 National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) personnel in Sunyani on Thursday, September 25, 2025, Mr. Buah warned the officers not to take instructions from so-called “big men” seeking to hinder their operations.
He emphasized that the government will not tolerate the environmental, public health, and water pollution consequences of galamsey.
The taskforce, composed of specially trained military and police officers, was urged to execute its mandate with integrity and fearlessness, resisting any external influence or inducement.
“No individual, regardless of political or social standing, has the right to shield perpetrators of illegal mining. You have taken an oath to defend this country, and this is one of those moments to uphold it,” he stated.
Highlighting the health risks posed by polluted water bodies, Mr. Buah described galamsey as a national threat that requires decisive action.
Deputy Director of Operations at the Presidency and NDC General Secretary, Mustapha Gbande, also charged the officers to act firmly, insisting that galamsey is a crisis that transcends party lines.
“The taskforce cannot fail this country. Arrest anyone who hides behind political parties or even claims presidential backing to engage in illegal mining,” he declared.
The 400 officers are to be permanently deployed to galamsey-prone areas nationwide as part of renewed efforts to clamp down on the menace.
Source: Dominic Donyina
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