Col. Dominic Buah
The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has expressed growing concern over the increasing involvement of minors in illegal mining activities, warning that the situation is becoming a troubling trend.
Speaking at the Secretariat’s press briefing, Director of Operations, Col. Dominic Buah, revealed that authorities have encountered children actively participating in galamsey operations.
“We have observed the issue of children in the space. They are minors, and that is a major concern for us,” he stated.
According to him, the matter has been escalated to relevant state institutions, including the Ministry of Gender and Social Protection and the Department of Social Welfare, to ensure appropriate intervention and rehabilitation for the affected children.
“We have engaged the appropriate authorities through the ministry and social welfare to determine how best they can handle the situation. We have their details and where they were picked up from,” he added.
Col. Buah indicated that the identified cases are likely only a fraction of a wider problem, suggesting that more minors could be involved in illegal mining activities across the country.
“This is a trend. These are not the only ones; we are dealing with just those we were able to apprehend,” he stressed.
Col. Buah further called for logistics saying, “We need vehicles, we need money, we need all the resources.”
He further warned illegal miners to avoid violent confrontation with members of NAIMOS anti-galamsey taskforce stating that the operations lead by NAIMOS has encountered resistance from some mining communities which has raised concerns about the safety of its personnel deployed to enforce the law.
He emphasized that the NAIMOS team will not tolerate any form of resistance from illegal miners adding that the operatives are well-trained and equipped to defend themselves if provoked.
“We will not stand and watch anyone use weapons against us. We are better trained in weapons and therefore warn that anybody who dares, NAIMOS will deal with them ruthlessly,” he said.
He added that illegal mining is a national problem which needs to be address warning that illegal miners who go to the field with the aim to fire will receive more of it.
By Vera Owusu Sarpong & Florence Asamoah Adom