President John Dramani Mahama has disclosed that the government has confiscated more than 8,200 items used in illegal mining and retrieved almost 200 firearms from those involved. He announced the figures at the 2026 Mining in Motion Summit at Destiny Arena in Accra on Monday, October 19, 2026.
The seizures come from the combined work of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and the Blue Water Guards, whom President Mahama commended as Ghana still battles galamsey.
He also revealed that the upcoming 2027 budget, which will be presented by the Finance Minister in November 2026, carries 200 million cedis for NAIMOS and the Blue Water Guards.
“We have achieved some successes in the fight against illegal mining.”
President John Dramani Mahama
Summit Opens With an Environmental Pledge
The summit runs from October 19 to 21 under the theme “One Continent, One Voice on Minerals.” His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, King of the Ashanti Kingdom, convened it as patron, in partnership with the African Union and the Government of Ghana.
President Mahama told delegates that “we must also commit ourselves to the process of preventing and mitigating the effects of mining on our environment.” He then turned to home, where Ghana is “still battling with the menace of illegal small-scale mining, popularly referred to as GALAMSEY.”
The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and the Blue Water Guards are separate bodies that work together under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
NAIMOS serves as the operational centre of the campaign. It coordinates security crackdowns, manages joint task forces, and carries out enforcement actions under senior security leadership.
The Blue Water Guards, a community-based force introduced in March 2025, patrol river corridors, conduct surveillance and gather intelligence. They feed that information to NAIMOS so that operations can respond quickly. The Lands Minister has commissioned the guards in batches to extend the force across the country.
Equipment and Weapons Taken From Illegal Miners
The confiscated items include chanfan machines, excavators and other equipment used in illegal mining. Among them are 135 excavators. Officials also retrieved almost 200 firearms that people involved in illegal mining carried.
The seizures extend a campaign that has produced visible results on the ground. NAIMOS halted operations along River Ankobra in February, and the Lands Ministry has since vowed action against irresponsible mining operations.
Armed Miners Lose Nine Red Zones
Ghana has 288 forest reserves, and illegal miners penetrated 48 of them. Nine of those became red zones, meaning forest guards could not enter because the miners were fully armed.
“I’m happy to note that of those 9 red zones, we have cleared all of them of illegal miners.” Officials are now preparing those reserves for reclamation, President Mahama added.
Tracking and Training Tighten the Net
The government has also moved against the machines themselves. Officials have registered and detained 6,060 excavators at the ports, and 2,059 of them now carry tracking devices so that authorities can locate where they operate.
President Mahama disclosed that 11 cooperatives have been trained in new mining methods and are operational. The Gold Board is financing small-scale artisanal mining with new technology that prevents destruction of the environment, he noted, which gives licensed miners a cleaner way to work.
Critics remain unconvinced. The Minority has accused the government of promoting illegal mining through GoldBod, and a coordinator warned in August that illegal mining thrives where authorities turn a blind eye.
Funding and Reforestation Back the Campaign
President Mahama had pledged in January that illegal mining would be confronted decisively. In August, he charged Zanetor to confront illegal mining and protect water bodies, and the new Environment Minister promised decisive action on mining and pollution.
The 2027 allocation gives NAIMOS and the Blue Water Guards a dedicated budget line for their work. On the restoration side, President Mahama disclosed that the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and REDD Plus are beginning a major reforestation initiative in various parts of Ghana, including the savannah regions.
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