The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and Acting Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has reaffirmed the government’s firm commitment to ending illegal mining (galamsey), declaring all forest reserves and river bodies across the country as Security Zones to be protected at all costs.

He made the announcement at the closing ceremony of a week-long intensive training programme for personnel of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) held in Sunyani.

The Minister commended the task force for its achievements since its establishment in June this year, which include:

The arrest of more than 1,000 illegal miners.

The repossession of nine previously inaccessible forest reserves.

The confiscation of over 900 water pump machines, now handed to the Ministry of Agriculture to support irrigation farming.

“These are not mere statistics. They are victories — victories for our land, for our water, and for our people,” Mr. Buah stressed.

He reminded the task force that the fight against galamsey was far from over, describing the training as a “convergence of purpose” that sharpens skills and strengthens cohesion among the Ghana Armed Forces, Police Service, Immigration Service, National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), and Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC).

The Minister also outlined a five-pronged strategy to guide the anti-galamsey campaign: strict enforcement, community engagement and education, provision of alternative livelihoods, technological innovation, and institutional coordination.

The training modules covered weapons handling, field craft, IED awareness, and intelligence coordination — measures designed to equip the force against evolving threats.

“You are the sharpened tip of the spear. Any recalcitrant entrant into these declared Security Zones is not merely a trespasser; they are an enemy of the state and are to be treated as such. You must be firm, resolute, and ruthless in the execution of your duties,” Mr Buah charged the personnel.