The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has seized 94 excavators and arrested 237 individuals—most of them foreigners—as part of intensified nationwide operations against illegal mining, popularly known as “galamsey.”
Providing an update at the NAIMOS Editors’ Forum and quarterly press briefing at the Press Centre in Accra on Wednesday, March 25, Director of Operations Dominic Buah said the Secretariat has also destroyed nearly 3,000 changfans used in illegal mining activities.
He noted that NAIMOS assesses its operational effectiveness using a “strike rate,” which currently stands at 87.7 percent. According to him, the rate reflects successful operations involving seizures, arrests, and destruction of illegal equipment.
Beyond confiscation, Col. Buah explained that operatives have increasingly resorted to immobilising excavators at illegal mining sites due to logistical constraints in transporting them. He said this strategy has significantly reduced the number of excavators found at such sites.
However, he acknowledged that illegal miners continue to adapt, often finding ways to repair or reuse immobilised equipment.
As part of broader efforts, NAIMOS has begun collaborating with the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC) to remove and repurpose scrap metal from polluted water bodies. The initiative is currently underway along the Ankobra River, where damaged equipment is being cleared for reuse.
The Secretariat is also repurposing confiscated equipment to support productive sectors. Pumping machines, for instance, are being redirected through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for use by farmers, while seized vehicles are being integrated into official operations after legal processes are completed.
On the security front, Col. Buah disclosed that at least 59 weapons have been confiscated from illegal miners, describing the development as a serious national security concern. He recounted a recent incident in which a soldier was shot during an operation but survived.
He issued a strong warning to illegal miners against the use of weapons, stressing that operatives would defend themselves if attacked.
Despite the challenges, NAIMOS says it remains committed to systematically tackling illegal mining and restoring affected environments across the country.
