Mahama appeals to chiefs to support galamsey fight, warns of resistance to NAIMOS operations

President John Dramani Mahama has appealed to chiefs and traditional rulers to support the government’s efforts to combat illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, warning that enforcement must be accompanied by alternative livelihood opportunities for affected communities.

He made the appeal when he received members of the Western North Regional House of Chiefs at the Presidency, Jubilee House, in Accra.

The President said the cooperation of chiefs was critical to the success of the campaign, given their close relationship with residents and their influence in areas where illegal mining persists. He called for stronger collaboration between the government, traditional authorities, and security agencies to address the environmental and security challenges linked to illegal mining.

President Mahama acknowledged the work of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) but expressed concern that enforcement officers sometimes meet resistance from residents, including some traditional authorities, during operations. He said such confrontations undermine efforts to clamp down on illegal mining and could escalate into violent incidents, which makes the cooperation of chiefs and community leaders essential to lasting results.

“We need the help of our chiefs in the fight against galamsey because you live in the community with the people, and sometimes NAIMOS is doing a good job, but sometimes we go into some communities and the youth and the traditional authorities and everybody fight back at NAIMOS,” he said.

“There are incidents where the soldiers have had to discharge firearms, which resulted in a few deaths. We want to avoid that, and so if we can get the collaboration of our chiefs to help in the fight against illegal mining, especially in our forest reserves and in our water bodies.”

The appeal comes as the government continues to strengthen enforcement against illegal mining, particularly in forest reserves and areas where mining threatens rivers and other water bodies.mahama