The Lands Ministry has announced that the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) will begin full-scale, 24-hour surveillance at illegal mining hotspots across the country by the end of the first quarter, March.

Director of communications at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Paa Kwasi Schandorf, disclosed this in an interview on JoyNews' The Pulse on Wednesday, March 4.

Providing an update on recent activities, he said that NAIMOS has conducted three major operations within the past week, with further details expected to be released.

Beyond routine swoops in galamsey-prone communities, Mr Schandorf said the new strategy will focus on sustained, uninterrupted deployment at key flashpoints where illegal mining remains prevalent.

“What this means in practical terms is that NAIMOS personnel will be stationed permanently at these hotspots. They will not move in and out after operations but will remain there around the clock, like watchmen, to prevent illegal miners from returning,” he explained.

The move follows concerns that illegal miners often resume activities shortly after enforcement teams withdraw from affected areas.

According to the Ministry, while NAIMOS operations have been successful in dismantling sites, enforcement momentum is sometimes not sustained at the local level.

“When NAIMOS executes an operation, the expectation is that local enforcement agencies will maintain the pressure. However, in some instances, once NAIMOS leaves, illegal activities escalate again,” the Ministry noted.

To address this challenge, he added that the sector minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has authorised the full-scale deployment strategy. The Ministry of Finance has also made financial commitments to support the initiative.

Additionally, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, Samuel Gyamfi, has provided assurances of institutional backing to ensure the rollout is effective.

The Lands Ministry expressed optimism that the sustained 24-hour presence will significantly reduce illegal mining activities and prevent the recurring cycle of operations followed by the return of offenders.