The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has begun a series of community engagements in galamsey-prone areas to strengthen stakeholder collaboration and support ongoing efforts to combat illegal mining.
The initiative is aimed at building public confidence, addressing local concerns and improving intelligence sharing between enforcement agencies and communities affected by illegal mining.
According to the announcement, the programme seeks to “encourage collective responsibility among traditional authorities, local goverment officials, opinion leaders, and other stakeholders in tackling illegal mining and its impact on the environment and livelihoods.”
The engagements are expected to provide opportunities for traditional authorities, local government officials and opinion leaders to work more closely with the Secretariat in addressing the challenges associated with galamsey.
The exercise is being led by NAIMOS Director of Operations, Colonel K. S. Appiah, together with a team from the Secretariat. The team is working closely with traditional authorities and relevant opinion leaders in selected communities.
NAIMOS has emphasised that the community outreach programme will complement existing enforcement measures rather than replace them.
The announcement states; “This engagement programme does not replace ongoing enforcement operations but rather forms part of a broader, coordinated and complementary approach adopted by the sector minister, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, in line with President Mahama’s vision of building a comprehensive strategy to combat illegal mining.”
The approach reflects an effort to combine enforcement with stronger community participation in addressing illegal mining and its effects on the environment and livelihoods.
NAIMOS reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining enforcement operations while strengthening cooperation with local communities and relevant institutions.
The Secretariat stated; “NAIMOS remains committed to maintaining decisive enforcement action while deepening partnerships with communities and relevant institutions to achieve a coordinated and lasting response to illegal mining nationwide.”
The ongoing engagements are intended to strengthen collaboration between communities and enforcement authorities as Ghana continues its efforts to tackle illegal mining.
Read the statement below:
