The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has disclosed that government, in collaboration with key security agencies, has intensified efforts to clamp down on illegal small-scale mining activities across the country.
Speaking during the Government Accountability Series at the Presidency, the Minister announced that 425 excavators and other machinery have been seized so far, with 1,345 arrests made nationwide. He added that prosecutions of the suspects are ongoing, with further updates expected from the Attorney-General’s office.
Mr. Buah said the operations have been carried out in partnership with the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Armed Forces, and the National Security Secretariat, forming a coordinated and aggressive response to illegal mining, also known as galamsey.
He revealed that in Ghana’s forest reserves alone, the following items have been seized:
- 177 excavators
- 4 bulldozers
- 12 vehicles
- 43 motorcycles
- 155 pumping machines
- 184 changfangs
- 15 detector machines
- 10 heavy-duty generators
- 286 persons arrested
To ensure better coordination of these nationwide efforts, the Ministry has established the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), which now serves as the central hub for operational planning and execution in the fight against illegal mining.
“NAIMOS represents Ghana’s unified response to the destruction caused by illegal mining. It brings together security, environmental, and legal approaches into one operational framework, especially in areas like water bodies and forest reserves,” the Minister said.
The government says it remains committed to restoring order in the mining sector through decisive actions, inter-agency collaboration, and sustainable regulatory reforms.
