At a recent meeting between President John Dramani Mahama and Civil Society Organisations on illegal mining, Colonel Dominic Buah, Director of Operations for the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), delivered a firm message to those funding and engaging in galamsey.
With over 400 troops now deployed across the country, Colonel Buah said NAIMOS is stepping up its efforts to dismantle illegal mining networks and hold financiers accountable.
He described these actors as enemies of the state and warned that their days of operating in secrecy are numbered.
“There will be no room for them to escape or hide. NAIMOS will smoke them out very soon. There’s no resting place for them, and be assured that very soon our waters will turn blue and our forests will turn green,” Colonel Buah declared.
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, also shared optimism about the progress made in the fight against galamsey.
He credited President Mahama’s leadership and political will as key drivers of the ongoing crackdown.
Meanwhile, Attorney-General Dr Ayine revealed that Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has been summoned to Accra to face charges related to his company’s alleged involvement in illegal mining. Failure to appear, Dr Ayine warned, will result in his arrest.
Investigations into Akonta Mining, owned by Chairman Wontumi, are still underway, according to CID Director-General DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor. Another individual has already been arrested in connection with the case.
