The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, and Acting Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has reaffirmed government’s tough stance against illegal mining, declaring all forest reserves and river bodies as Security Zones to be protected at all costs.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of a week-long training programme for personnel of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) in Sunyani, the Minister praised the team for their relentless efforts since its establishment in June.

He highlighted key achievements, including:
    •    The arrest of over 1,000 illegal miners
    •    The reclamation of nine previously “no-go” forest reserves
    •    The confiscation of more than 900 water pumps, now handed to the Ministry of Agriculture to support irrigation projects.

“These are not mere statistics. They are victories – victories for our land, for our water, and for our people,” Hon. Buah said.

He reminded the task force that the fight was far from over, stressing that the training was designed not only to sharpen skills but also to build cohesion among the Army, Police, Immigration Service, NIB, and NACOC officers.

Outlining the Ministry’s Five-Pronged Strategy – enforcement, engagement and education, alternative livelihoods, technological innovation, and institutional coordination – he said the training modules covered weapons handling, field craft, IED awareness, and intelligence coordination to prepare NAIMOS for evolving threats.

“You are the sharpened tip of the spear. Any recalcitrant entrant into these declared Security Zones is not merely a trespasser; they are an enemy of the state and must be treated as such. Be firm, resolute, and ruthless against those who seek to destroy our common heritage,” he charged.

Hon. Buah further disclosed that NAIMOS personnel will be permanently deployed in forests and along river bodies to provide sustained protection. He urged them to embody vigilance, integrity, and courage, assuring that the President and all well-meaning Ghanaians were counting on them to safeguard the environment for future generations.

“We cannot fail, and we will not fail,” he stressed.

The Sunyani training exercise, he noted, marks a pivotal moment in government’s aggressive anti-galamsey strategy – not only scaling up enforcement but also sustaining reforms to ensure responsible and sustainable mining practices nationwide.



Sompaonline.com /Prince Atta-Boateng