The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has cautioned that persistent interference from influential individuals—especially traditional authorities and political actors—is weakening Ghana’s fight against illegal mining.

Speaking at a stakeholder engagement in Sekondi on Sunday, December 7, the Deputy Director of Operations at NAIMOS, Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Satekla, stated that although the secretariat is committed to curbing galamsey, the actions of some chiefs, politicians, and other powerful individuals continue to obstruct enforcement efforts.

The meeting brought together 14 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in the Western Region as well as two Regional Police Commanders.

Lt. Col. Satekla explained that illegal mining hotspots require strong enforcement backed by full cooperation from local authorities in order to sustain designated “no-go” zones.

However, he noted that this expected support is often undermined.

“Every institution faces challenges, and we are no different. A major challenge we contend with is interference from influential people. We experience this from political leaders, chiefs, and other stakeholders in the communities where we operate, and it remains a serious issue that must be tackled. Logistics constraints also pose significant difficulties,” he said.

Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson reaffirmed government’s determination to eliminate illegal mining and called on all MMDCEs to fully support President John Dramani Mahama’s renewed efforts to end galamsey.