The Member of Parliament for Ellembelle and Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, who also serves as caretaker Minister for Environment, has rolled out intensive training for security personnel drafted into the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations (NAIMOS).

The training programme is designed to equip the personnel with professional skills to effectively confront illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

Officers will be trained to deter, halt, discourage, and arrest perpetrators of illegal mining across the country.

President John Dramani Mahama, while reaffirming the government’s commitment to responsible mining, has stressed that his administration will not tolerate mining activities in water bodies and forest reserves due to their devastating impact on the environment and livelihoods.

According to the Minister, the task force will be deployed to over 44 major galamsey flashpoints, with some officers permanently stationed in these areas to ensure constant monitoring.

Personnel will also be expected to collaborate with traditional authorities, while maintaining strict integrity in their operations.

The launch of NAIMOS follows a series of government interventions aimed at curbing galamsey.

These include the President’s directive to suspend the issuance of new mining licenses, the proposed repeal of L.I. 2462, the introduction of the Blue Water Guards, the Responsible Community Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), as well as the tracking and geo-fencing of excavators.

The Minister emphasised that the task force is expected to work tirelessly to deliver visible results, particularly in reducing the turbidity of water bodies and eliminating heavy metal contamination caused by illegal mining activities.

“This is a fight we cannot afford to lose.

Ghanaians deserve to see cleaner rivers, safer forests, and a mining sector that sustains livelihoods without destroying our environment,”Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah said.