The Government of Ghana has formally inaugurated the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) to intensify and streamline the country’s fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
Established under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the secretariat will serve as the central coordinating body for all anti-illegal mining efforts nationwide.
Its formation marks a significant escalation in the government’s environmental protection agenda, particularly in safeguarding water bodies, forest reserves, and public health from the destructive effects of unregulated mining activities.
In a statement signed by Ama Mawusi Mawuenyefia, Director of Communications at the Ministry, NAIMOS is described as the result of strategic inter-agency collaboration involving the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of the Interior, the National Security Council, and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
“No person, individual, or organized group is permitted to conduct any anti-illegal mining operation without the knowledge and approval of NAIMOS,” the statement stressed.
The government also warned against unauthorized enforcement actions and urged all public and private bodies to comply strictly with the directive.
The secretariat’s core mandates include coordinating and supervising all anti-galamsey operations, facilitating intelligence-sharing among security agencies, ensuring lawful conduct to avoid abuse, and supporting environmental recovery efforts like land reclamation and river purification.
NAIMOS is also tasked with monitoring and evaluating the impact of interventions in illegal mining hotspots.
The Ministry emphasized that this new structure is a lawful, intelligence-led approach aimed at avoiding the chaos, inefficiencies, and abuses that have plagued previous efforts.
It is expected to enhance the effectiveness of security deployments while promoting transparency, accountability, and measurable outcomes.
