The incident, which occurred on Saturday, November 1, 2025, involved a confrontation between the NAIMOS Director and his team and a group of illegal miners operating in the area.

Preliminary police reports indicate that several suspects were apprehended during the operation. The team also seized a Smith & Wesson pistol, ammunition, two pistol magazines, an unregistered Range Rover, an unregistered Toyota RAV4, and several mobile phones.

In a statement issued on Monday, November 3, the Lands Minister condemned the attack, describing it as “unacceptable and a direct affront to law enforcement efforts.”

“This aligns with the government’s firm commitment to bring to book all perpetrators who aid, support, or front the continuous decimation of the environment,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has directed the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to take over the case and conduct a thorough probe into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

He made the call during a working visit to the Commission’s head office in Accra on April 8, 2025, as part of his familiarisation tour following his appointment as sector minister.

Addressing management and staff, the Minister emphasized the need for a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to excellence, especially in the face of long-standing public mistrust.

“I expect the Lands Commission to align itself with the government’s resetting agenda and contribute meaningfully to achieving the broader national vision. Together, we can make a difference in Ghana,” he stated.

He stressed the importance of values such as timeliness, dedication, hard work, and integrity in public service delivery, expressing confidence that with the right mindset, the Commission’s image could be transformed.

Touching on operational efficiency, Armah-Kofi Buah underscored the urgent need to digitalise the Commission’s processes to address corruption-related concerns. He noted that digital transformation would not only improve transparency but also streamline service delivery.

The Minister further assured staff of government’s intention to review their remuneration packages to boost morale and enhance performance.

“Motivated staff produce results, and we are committed to ensuring that your conditions of service reflect the expectations placed on you,” he added.

One of the major concerns raised during the engagement was the absence of a comprehensive national base map, which hampers the Commission’s ability to effectively carry out its mandate.

The Minister disclosed that an estimated $165 million is required to complete the mapping of the country and pledged to work closely with the Ministry of Finance to secure the necessary funding.

“We will pursue this agenda together, but even as we do that, there are many things within your control that you can begin to address now to help us achieve our collective goal,” he urged.

Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Yusif Sulemana, also encouraged management to step up and deliver on their mandate in line with the government’s transformational agenda.

Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission, Benjamin Arthur, briefed the Minister on the Commission’s structure, strategic business goals, land tenure systems, and ongoing digitalisation efforts. He echoed the Minister’s concerns, noting that the lack of a national base map significantly limits their operational capacity.

The visit ended with a tour of the Commission’s facilities, during which the Minister interacted with staff and inspected the National Data Center.

Armah-Kofi Buah’s visit marks a renewed push by the Ministry to position the Lands Commission as a trustworthy, efficient, and digitally driven institution in service of national development.

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The committee also called for a complete overhaul of the Community Mining Scheme and the decentralization of mining licence issuance. Additionally, it proposed the repeal of L.I. 2462, which grants the President the power to authorize mining in forest reserves.

Commending the committee for its work, Buah stated that the report would serve as a blueprint for tackling illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.

He emphasized that the findings provide the necessary information to take decisive action in the small-scale mining sector and reiterated the government’s stance on revoking all licences issued since December 7, 2024.

He further revealed that the Community Mining Scheme would be disbanded and replaced with Small-Scale Cooperatives that genuinely serve the interests of local communities.

Minister of Environment, Science, and Technology, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammad, described the fight against galamsey as a moral battle for the protection of Ghanaian lives. He warned that illegal mining is an act of environmental terrorism and stressed that even members of the NDC found culpable would not be spared from punitive actions.

He assured that relevant ministries and stakeholders would work together to ensure lasting solutions to illegal mining in Ghana.

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