By Ashiadey Dotse
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, says the Board has budgeted for 10 speedboats to support NAIMOS operations against illegal mining on Ghana’s water bodies.
Speaking during a conversation on X on Sunday, August 9, 2026, Mr Gyamfi said the acquisition of the speedboats forms part of GoldBod’s wider support for the fight against illegal mining.
He said the boats had already been ordered and are being manufactured to support the National Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (NAIMOS) in its efforts to protect water bodies affected by galamsey.
He disclosed that GoldBod has already provided GH¢5 million and five pickup vehicles to NAIMOS to strengthen its enforcement operations.
Mr Gyamfi said the support is necessary because illegal mining continues to threaten Ghana’s water bodies and the environment.
He also announced that GoldBod will support the reclamation of three forest reserves devastated by illegal mining in 2027.
According to him, GoldBod has already started supporting reclamation efforts, with the Tano Nimri Forest Reserve among the areas receiving attention. He said Apaprama is also expected to benefit.
“We are reclaiming it. And next year, we are taking up three devastated forest reserves because the President is so passionate about it; it is dear to his heart, and says GoldBod, you need to help in this fight,” he said.
Mr Gyamfi stressed that GoldBod was not responsible for the destruction of the forest reserves but had decided to contribute to the restoration of areas.
He said the intervention forms part of GoldBod’s broader efforts to address the environmental impact of illegal mining while promoting the formalisation of responsible small-scale mining.
“The solving of environmental concerns while at the same time dealing with the economic need that the gold must meet are not mutually exclusive; it goes hand in hand,” he said.
Mr Gyamfi appealed to Ghanaians to give GoldBod more time to implement its measures, stressing that the illegal mining crisis could not be solved immediately.
He said a combination of enforcement, reclamation, formalisation and traceability would be needed to protect Ghana’s environment while ensuring that the country continues to benefit from its gold resources.
