The Director of Operations at the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), Dominic Buah, has stressed the need for sustainable mining practices to address the environmental and health risks associated with illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Speaking at the NAIMOS Editors’ Forum and quarterly press briefing in Accra on Wednesday, March 25, he said mining cannot be stopped entirely, describing it as a critical part of Ghana’s economy.
“If anybody told you that you can stop mining in Ghana, I don’t believe it… mining will go on,” he stated.
He, however, emphasised that efforts must focus on sustainability, particularly reducing the health and environmental dangers posed by illegal mining activities.
Col. Buah outlined three key pillars guiding NAIMOS’ operations—prevention, restoration, and sustainability—aimed at addressing long-standing challenges in the sector.
He identified poor coordination among institutions as a major setback in previous anti-galamsey efforts, noting that it led to duplication of work and inefficient use of resources.
According to him, the establishment of NAIMOS was intended to provide a central coordinating body to streamline operations nationwide.
He added that although the Secretariat has been operational for just over 10 months and has recorded progress, continuous engagement with stakeholders, especially the media, remains critical to assessing performance and shaping future strategies.
Col. Buah said the forum was designed to strengthen collaboration with the media in tackling illegal mining and ensuring a sustainable path forward.
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