The Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Mr. Abraham Koomson, has called on the newly established National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAiMOS) to extend its crackdown beyond small-scale illegal miners to include chiefs and security officers who enable or turn a blind eye to illegal mining activities.

Speaking on Ahotor FM’s Yepe Ahunu show on Saturday, October 25, 2025, Mr. Koomson commended the government for setting up NAiMOS under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, describing it as a positive step toward ending the galamsey menace.

However, he cautioned that the initiative would yield little success if enforcement efforts focused only on the “galamsey boys” while ignoring powerful individuals who sustain the illegal trade.

“The government should be firm in dealing with Regional and District Police Commanders who look on while galamsey goes on in their jurisdictions.

If you are a commander and galamsey is happening under your watch, you must be sacked — not transferred,” he said.

Mr. Koomson stressed that the fight against illegal mining must be comprehensive, impartial, and rooted in accountability.

He urged NAiMOS to apply the law equally, ensuring that traditional leaders, political figures, and security officials complicit in the practice face the same consequences as the miners on the ground.

“NAiMOS is a good initiative, and the government’s new approach is commendable.

But they shouldn’t focus only on the young men doing the mining.

Any chief or influential person involved must be dealt with decisively.

That’s the only way we can curb galamsey,” he emphasised.

He further warned that declaring a state of emergency or launching high-profile operations would not solve the problem unless the underlying issues of corruption, negligence, and complicity by local authorities were addressed.

NAiMOS, established as a special-purpose unit under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, is mandated to coordinate, monitor, and lead intelligence-driven field operations against illegal mining across the country.

Mr. Koomson reiterated that a fair and fearless enforcement strategy—one that holds all actors accountable—remains the surest path to ending galamsey for good.