The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has announced plans for a two-month special operation in the Atewa Forest Reserve to flush out illegal miners and prevent further destruction of the forest.
The operation is expected to involve specially trained personnel who will remain in the reserve until illegal mining activities have been cleared, followed by continued monitoring to prevent miners from returning.
Speaking to the media, NAIMOS Director of Operations, Colonel K.S. Appiah, said the operation would be sustained to ensure lasting results rather than a temporary reduction in illegal mining activities.
“Operation Green Shield will commence. It will be a sustained operation where troops will remain in the forest reserve until all the illegal miners are cleared,” he said.
He explained that the operation would be carried out in phases, with specially trained personnel initially deployed to clear the affected areas.
After the clearance exercise, other personnel would take over monitoring duties to prevent fresh encroachment until the Forestry Commission could deploy its own forest guards.
“After that we transition to other personnel who will now keep the monitoring of that area and prevent people from coming in until a month or two where Forestry Commission will be able to get forestry guards who take up that responsibility,” Colonel Appiah said.
He added that NAIMOS would then withdraw its personnel from the area and remain available as a rapid-response team when needed.
The announcement comes amid concerns over intensified illegal mining activities in the Atewa Forest Reserve, which have prompted calls for stronger enforcement and the establishment of operational stations to protect the area.
Colonel Appiah said the secretariat was planning several operations through the end of the year, with sustained enforcement expected in various locations.
“We have a number of operations planned from now till the end of the year and you see sustained operations in various areas starting from next week,” he said.
He also assured the public that funding for the planned activities was available.
“So I’ll assure you that the funds that we require for operations we get,” he added.
The operations are intended to prevent illegal miners from returning to cleared sites, an approach the secretariat considers essential to achieving lasting results.
Colonel Appiah said the timing and sequencing of enforcement activities were important because moving rapidly between numerous locations without maintaining control could allow illegal miners to return.
“We might not be seen everywhere at the time because we need to sequence our operations so that we have lasting impact rather than going all around, hitting too many places, leaving and people coming back,” he explained.
The two-month Atewa Forest operation is expected to combine the initial removal of illegal miners with follow-up monitoring and a gradual handover to forestry personnel.
The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has announced plans for a two-month special operation in the Atewa Forest Reserve to flush out illegal miners and prevent further destruction of the forest.
The operation is expected to involve specially trained personnel who will remain in the reserve until illegal mining activities have been cleared, followed by continued monitoring to prevent miners from returning.
Speaking to the media, NAIMOS Director of Operations, Colonel K.S. Appiah, said the operation would be sustained to ensure lasting results rather than a temporary reduction in illegal mining activities.
“Operation Green Shield will commence. It will be a sustained operation where troops will remain in the forest reserve until all the illegal miners are cleared,” he said.
He explained that the operation would be carried out in phases, with specially trained personnel initially deployed to clear the affected areas.
After the clearance exercise, other personnel would take over monitoring duties to prevent fresh encroachment until the Forestry Commission could deploy its own forest guards.
“After that we transition to other personnel who will now keep the monitoring of that area and prevent people from coming in until a month or two where Forestry Commission will be able to get forestry guards who take up that responsibility,” Colonel Appiah said.
He added that NAIMOS would then withdraw its personnel from the area and remain available as a rapid-response team when needed.
The announcement comes amid concerns over intensified illegal mining activities in the Atewa Forest Reserve, which have prompted calls for stronger enforcement and the establishment of operational stations to protect the area.
Colonel Appiah said the secretariat was planning several operations through the end of the year, with sustained enforcement expected in various locations.
“We have a number of operations planned from now till the end of the year and you see sustained operations in various areas starting from next week,” he said.
He also assured the public that funding for the planned activities was available.
“So I’ll assure you that the funds that we require for operations we get,” he added.
The operations are intended to prevent illegal miners from returning to cleared sites, an approach the secretariat considers essential to achieving lasting results.
Colonel Appiah said the timing and sequencing of enforcement activities were important because moving rapidly between numerous locations without maintaining control could allow illegal miners to return.
“We might not be seen everywhere at the time because we need to sequence our operations so that we have lasting impact rather than going all around, hitting too many places, leaving and people coming back,” he explained.
The two-month Atewa Forest operation is expected to combine the initial removal of illegal miners with follow-up monitoring and a gradual handover to forestry personnel.
