The National Security has issued a strong warning to chiefs, politicians, and opinion leaders in the Eastern Region, cautioning them to desist from interfering in the work of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) as it intensifies efforts to curb illegal mining in the region.
The warning, issued by the Eastern Regional National Security Liaison Officer, Francis Annor Dompreh, comes amid renewed government enforcement measures against galamsey.
Mr. Dompreh stated that any attempt by traditional or political figures to shield offenders or influence investigations will be met with swift sanctions.
“I keep emphasising that the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat put together by the President himself, reports to the President and then the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources. And their order is straightforward: let the waters be blue, be clean, drinkable, like they used to be. Let the forest be green”
Francis Annor Dompreh, Eastern Regional National Security Liaison Officer
He warned that individuals who intervene or plead on behalf of those arrested for engaging in illegal mining would also face arrest and prosecution. According to him, the directive from the Presidency leaves no room for leniency or negotiation, and enforcement officers are under strict orders to act without fear or favour.
“The point is that we don’t know any chief, we don’t know anybody. What we know is the order. So get out! That is why I’m telling you. I’m making this press conference to emphasise this. So if you know you are a chief and you know you have machines on the rivers, in the forest, it is better for you to go and pack your things and go”
Francis Annor Dompreh, Eastern Regional National Security Liaison Officer
Stressing that its task is to restore Ghana’s degraded forests and water bodies, he reiterated that the directive is non-negotiable and must be respected by all stakeholders regardless of status or influence.
“Whether you come in the morning, you come in the afternoon, you come in the night, you will be dealt with,” he added, warning all parties, including enablers, to steer clear of all galamsey operations in their communities.
The Liaison Officer’s remarks underscore the government’s renewed commitment under President John Dramani Mahama’s administration to combat illegal mining through a coordinated, intelligence-driven approach.
The warning reflects growing frustration within security circles over persistent political and traditional interference that has historically weakened the fight against galamsey.
Restoring Order
The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), established under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, serves as a special-purpose unit mandated to coordinate, monitor, and lead anti-galamsey operations across the country.
Its creation forms part of a broader government strategy to enforce mining regulations, protect natural resources, and ensure sustainable land and water management.
In recent months, the Secretariat has ramped up field operations in several regions, dismantling illegal mining camps and seizing heavy equipment used in mining along riverbanks and forest reserves. The Eastern Region, one of the hardest hit by environmental degradation, remains a key focus area for enforcement.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, through NAIMOS, has also emphasized inter-agency collaboration involving the Ghana Armed Forces, Police Service, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Water Resources Commission to ensure that illegal miners are prosecuted and rehabilitated sites are protected from re-entry.
The warning by the National Security follows increasing reports of illegal miners resuming operations despite ongoing crackdowns because of the involvement of some traditional leaders in the said areas.
But the government maintains that the campaign against illegal mining is integral to the nation’s economic and environmental recovery agenda and would not be compromised by the ideals of local chiefs or political financiers.
Officials have stressed that the battle against galamsey will only succeed if local authorities and community leaders act in good faith and support enforcement rather than obstruct it. By extending accountability to traditional and political actors, the state aims to dismantle the stubborn networks that shield illegal mining from the law.
The National Security Secretariat has therefore urged all stakeholders to respect NAIMOS’ mandate, warning that no one – regardless of social standing – will be exempt from the consequences of undermining the law.
As enforcement intensifies, the message from the government remains unambiguous: illegal mining will not be tolerated, and interference in its eradication will be treated as complicity.
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