The New Director of Operations of National Anti Illegal Mining Operations( NAIMOs), Col Kofi Sam Appiah has vowed to brutally confront illegal Miners and make the adventure unattractive for them.
Col. Appiah stressed that his priority is to intensify the fight against illegal miners and sustain the gains made by his predecessors.
New Director of Operations of National Anti Illegal Mining Operations( NAIMOs), Col Kofi Sam Appiah addressing the Inaugural “Progress Series”
Col. Appiah who succeeded Col. Buah made the statement at an Inaugural Series dubbed “ the Progress Series” on Thursday aimed at giving updates on operations of NAIMOs.
“Upon assuming office, I developed an operational design that seeks to secure Ghana’s strategic watersheds and river systems from source to estuary. Protecting headwaters, disrupting mining along river corridors and safeguarding downstream communities are interconnected tasks. This approach focuses our efforts on the conditions needed for lasting environmental security”, Col Appiah emphasized.
“Our task forces recovered 74 firearms and 551 rounds of ammunition. They also seized excavators, pumps, vehicles and other equipment used to support illegal mining. Over the period, 1,970 chanfang machines and 863 makeshift structures were destroyed, disrupting mining capacity and the infrastructure that sustains it”, Col Appiah stressed.
He said Suspects were also apprehended and handed over to the appropriate authorities for investigation and further action maintaining that NAIMOs responsibility extends to preserving evidence and supporting the justice process so that enforcement can produce credible deterrence.
These actions, he said reduce illegal operators’ ability to occupy sensitive areas, move equipment freely, and resume production adding that Sustained follow-up is necessary to turn disruption into lasting control.
He later emphasized that the desired end state is substantially reduced illegal mining in priority areas; effective control of illegal miners and their heavy equipment; disrupted criminal networks; and enduring monitoring and protection arrangements in place where measurable environmental improvement remains an essential test of long-term success.
OPERATIONAL PROGRESS
The new Director of Operations revealed further that Between 13 June and 30 September, NAIMOS has conducted 738 operational activities, covering a cumulative distance of 50,662 kilometres adding that this effort include combined reconnaissance, mobile and riverine patrols, raids, special operations and community engagement.
“Forward deployments strengthened our ability to maintain pressure near major hotspots and respond to emerging activity. Joint operations extended our reach across the Western, Western North, Central, Eastern, and Ashanti Regions; the Bono and Ahafo operational area; and the Savannah and Northern operational area”, he said
OPERATION WATERSHIELD
CONSOLIDATING RIVER SECURITY
The NAIMOs Operations Director said the next phase of Operation WATER SHIELD will place greater emphasis on securing gains after clearance adding that Illegal operators must not be allowed to return once an intensive operation ends as Continued presence, surveillance and a capacity to respond are essential to that effort.
“On the Ankobra, in close coordination with the Ghana Navy, we plan to deploy a dedicated riverine unit following the Special Boat Squadron operations. Its role will be to sustain patrols, deter the return of chanfang operators and consolidate the gains achieved by the clearance effort. This planned deployment will provide continuity between intensive intervention and sustained river security.
Along the Offin, our planned operations will combine ground and riverine action to disrupt illegal mining, dominate priority river sections and prevent reoccupation. The Offin is part of the wider Pra basin, so protecting it is important to downstream water security. Reconnaissance and intelligence already conducted will guide the concentration of effort and coordination with the relevant agencies.
We will also sustain the operational effort on the Birim and pursue coordinated action across other priority river systems. Protecting one section of a river must include attention to connected tributaries and source areas, so illegal activity is not simply displaced elsewhere in the same basin”, Col Appiah emphasized.
OPERATION GREEN SHIELD
Operation GREEN SHIELD according to Col Appiah is NAIMOs planned forest protection intervention in the Atewa Forest Reserve.
He said it aims to disrupt illegal mining in priority areas, deny renewed access, and create the conditions for sustained protection of this strategic watershed.
“The concept follows three stages: clear and disrupt; hold and stabilise; and transition and handover. Specially trained personnel will conduct forest operations, followed by sustained patrols and surveillance to prevent illegal miners from returning.
The intended outcome is a reserve in which priority hotspots have been cleared and stabilised, with routine protection progressively transferred to Forestry Commission guards. Protecting Atewa strengthens the wider effort to safeguard river sources and support environmental recovery. This reflects a central principle of our operational design: “Enable transition to permanent agency-led protection of forest reserves, watersheds and river systems.” He intimated.
Col. Appiah who commended the media for being with NAIMOs every step on the way also commended President Mahama for the opportunity given him as well as the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, which he said has committed to providing the needed logistical support and funding to sustain NAIMOS operations.
“Our operational focus must continue to target the financiers, equipment suppliers and facilitators who sustain illegal mining. Intelligence, field enforcement and investigations must support one another. Cooperation with investigators and prosecutors is necessary to translate evidence into effective legal action.
The firebrand new NAIMOs Commander later sent a word of caution to illegal miners vowing to deal ruthlessly with them.
“To those engaged in illegal mining, the direction is clear. Mining in our rivers, forests, farms and plantations must stop. Our enforcement effort will continue against illegal miners and the networks sustaining them, in cooperation with the institutions responsible for investigation and prosecution. Individuals and groups who continue to pollute our rivers, degrade our forests and decimate critical national infrastructure, including roads, will be dealt with decisively”, he noted.
source:www.senaradioonline.com
