By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) is revamping its approach to combating illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, with a focus on community engagement and intelligence gathering.
Director of Operations at NAIMOS, Col. Dominic Buah, has emphasised the importance of involving local chiefs and communities in the fight against illegal mining, stating that traditional leaders are playing a key role in addressing the menace.
Speaking at a media briefing in Accra on March 25, Col. Buah said chiefs are often perceived as part of the problem due to allegations that some of them aid illegal miners, but he believes they are, in fact, central to efforts to combat the practice.
He explained that NAIMOS operations are built around three main components. The first is intelligence gathering, involving informers, crew chiefs and the Blue Water Guards, who provide crucial information on illegal mining activities.
The second is community engagement, where chiefs and civil society organisations collaborate with NAIMOS to address the issue.
The third is petition-based operations, where the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources directs NAIMOS to carry out interventions based on petitions received.
The government has launched a nationwide deployment of NAIMOS personnel to tackle illegal mining, with a focus on restoring degraded lands and protecting water resources. Recent operations have led to the seizure of equipment and the arrest of suspects.
