In the wake of attacks on NAIMOS in Hwidiem in the Ahafo region, NAIMOs is considering revision of strategy to combat the illegal miners who are causing Havoc to the land and water bodies.
Addressing a news conference in Accra on Friday (November 7, 2025), Head of Communications at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Ama Mawusi explained that the decision to revise strategy was necessitated by the incidences of hwidiem and Obuasi where EPA officials on their routine mandate were attacked.
“NAIMOS has a routine mandate. Based on the last incidence and the conversation that have gone on, I know that there is a revision of strategy”, Ms Mawusi emphasized.
Head of Communications at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Ama Mawusi interacting with Deputy CEO of Minerals Commission, Emmanuel Anyinah
She said NAIMOs, regardless of the incidence, is fired up and unperturbed stressing NAIMOS’ unwavering commitment to flush out all illegal miners from their base.
Giving blow by blow account of the Hwidiem incidence, the Head of Communications stressed that following Government’s declaration of Forest Reserves and Waterbodies as Security Zones, on Saturday, 1st November 2025 a ten-man NAIMOS team led by the Director of Operations Col. Dominic Buah went to conduct a Recce in Goaso.
She said the objective was to identify a suitable location for the permanent deployment of a NAIMOS field task force in line with the Secretariat’s strategic plan to sustain anti-illegal mining operations.
“On their way back, they sighted ongoing illegal mining operation by the roadside at Bonikrom — about 10 metres from the Hwidiem–Goaso highway in the Ahafo Region.
According to the reports received, the miners bolted when they spotted the NAIMOS team, leaving behind a Burkinabe national who was operating the excavator. Col. Buah instructed the suspect to refill the pits they had dug to prevent further environmental degradation.
He was then asked to call the site owner. While at it, the Naimos field task force set ablaze shelters used as offices and shelters by the illegal miners.
The first individual to arrive identified himself as a Defence Intelligence (DI) representative from the Ahafo Region. Shortly after, two other individuals arrived, claiming ownership of the site”, she narrated.
Head of Communications at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Ama Mawusi, Deputy CEO of Minerals Commission, Emmanuel Anyinah and a member of NAIMOS(in uniform), Ms Zanle Ezein
She said a search conducted on the gentlemen revealed the following items:
• One (1) Smith & Wesson pistol
• Two (2) pistol magazines
• Twenty-one (21) rounds of 9mm ammunition
• One (1) black side bag
• Twelve (12) assorted mobile phones (including Samsung, Techno, Villanelle, and Itel brands)
• One power bank
• Cash amounting to GH₵11,000.00
According to her while arrangements were being made to convey the suspects to the Hwidiem Police Station, some other individuals arrived at the scene, demanding the release of the arrested persons.
Head of Communications of Minerals Commission, Dela Edem speaking at the Press Conference
“The Director politely declined the unlawful request, maintaining that the arrests were appropriate and that the right procedure be followed through to the Police.
The matter escalated quickly to the extent that reinforcement had to be sent from a neighbouring police station to rescue the NAIMOS personnel who had been besieged by the growing mob who were threatening to burn down the police station.
Col. Buah’s Toyota Hilux pickup was vandalized. The tense standoff created a serious threat to life and property, placing immense pressure on both the Director of Operations and the police officers on duty” Ms Mawusi emphasized.
The head of Communications who said the Sector Minister Hon. Armah Kofi Buah has condemned the attacks on EPA boss Prof. Browne Klutse and her team, later commended some police officers in the area and Zongo chief who volunteered his Toyota Seqouia to transport the NAIMOS Task Force.
“We want to commend Chief Superintendent Prince Odom-Koduah, the Ahafo Regional Crime Officer, and the fifteen (15) member Regional Task Force, headed by Inspector Ofosu. They were supported by Superintendent John Atanga, Divisional Commander for Goaso, Superintendent Opoku Yamoah, District Commander for Kenyase, and other senior officers”, she said.
She however expressed the Minister’s commitment to resource the NAIMOS teams with logistics in order to realize their objective of clamping down on galamsey in Ghana.
Source:www.senaradioonline.com
