The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has announced plans to investigate reports of illegal gold washing allegedly being carried out within residential premises.
The Director of Operations of NAIMOS, Dominic Buah, said the development suggests that aspects of the illegal mining value chain are shifting into private homes.
He made the remarks at a press briefing in Accra on March 25, 2026, where he provided an update on the secretariat’s ongoing operations.
Responding to the concerns, Colonel Buah said intelligence teams would be deployed to verify suspected locations, adding that the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) would support efforts to track such activities.
He explained that NAIMOS relies heavily on intelligence-driven operations, supported by information from communities and security agencies.
“NAIMOS operations are conducted from three main legs. First of all, it is intelligence-led. We have a wide array of intelligence staff locally deployed on the ground. People do not know them, but they give us up-to-date information on what is happening on the ground,” he said.
Colonel Buah said reports from chiefs, civil society organisations and residents are assessed thoroughly before any action is taken.
“A lot of the time, chiefs send petitions, as do communities and civil society organisations. Once these petitions get to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, they are scrutinised and evaluated, then NAIMOS is directed to act,” he added.
He said Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) are required to notify NAIMOS ahead of any anti-illegal mining operations to ensure coordination and accountability.
“So the MMDAs can also conduct operations, but they have to inform NAIMOS. Forty-eight hours before they conduct an operation, they need to inform us, and after the operation, they have to render an account. Accountability is important in this field,” he said.
Colonel Buah also raised concerns about the presence of children in illegal mining areas, describing the situation as worrying.
“One issue we have observed is the presence of children in the space. There are minors there and that is a concern,” he said.
He added that the matter has been referred to the appropriate authorities, including the Department of Social Welfare, for further action.
On land restoration efforts, Colonel Buah disclosed that more than 800 acres of degraded land at Manso Adubia in the Ashanti Region have been reclaimed under NAIMOS supervision.
“These are gains we are making,” he said.
He explained that NAIMOS operations involve collaboration with multiple security and regulatory bodies, including the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police Service, NIB, Immigration Service and the Narcotics Control Commission.
The secretariat also works with institutions such as the Minerals Commission, Forestry Commission, Water Resources Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Colonel Buah emphasised that community support remains critical in identifying and addressing illegal mining activities across the country.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh
