Accra, March 25, – The National Anti‑Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has reassured the public that all excavators seized during anti‑galamsey operations are intact and securely held, as authorities continue to decide on their future use.
Colonel Dominic Buah, NAIMOS Director of Operations, spoke at an editors’ forum in Accra, confirming that 94 excavators had been seized, nearly 3,000 illegal mining sites dismantled, and 237 individuals arrested, most of whom were foreign nationals.
“Every excavator taken by NAIMOS remains intact… the Ministry will account for them, and the Government will determine the next steps,” Col. Buah said.
He noted that the presence of heavy machinery at illegal mining locations had been drastically reduced. “Where we used to see 10, 20 excavators, now they are few… and those present are immobilised,” he explained.
Col. Buah described how operatives disabled machinery on site when immediate removal was not feasible, preventing further use, though some illegal miners attempted repairs.
The Secretariat has also implemented measures to repurpose confiscated assets. Seized pumping machines are being redirected for agricultural use through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, with several already distributed to farmers. Vehicles are being integrated into state operations, while scrap metal recovered from waterways is being cleared in collaboration with the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation.
Teams are actively working along major rivers, including the Ankobra, to remove debris left by illegal mining. “We are systematically clearing damaged metal from one water body to the next,” Col. Buah said.
Security remains a key concern, with 59 weapons, mostly pump-action guns, seized from illegal miners. “Any provocation could lead to gunfire… our personnel have the right to self-defence,” he warned.
Despite these achievements, Col. Buah stressed that the fight against galamsey is ongoing, with plans to expand permanent deployments and intensify operations along critical waterways.
“We are not out of the woods yet, but our focus and dedication remain unwavering,” he said, urging illegal miners to desist and take advantage of Government-backed cooperative mining schemes.
Illegal mining continues to threaten the environment and economy, causing river pollution, forest degradation, and loss of arable land. NAIMOS, established in 2025, coordinates anti-illegal mining operations, protects water bodies and forests, and supervises land restoration efforts.
GHBUSS
March 25, 2026
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