Galamsey Fight: NAIMOS to Receive GH¢200 Million in 2027 Budget, Says Spokesperson

The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) is set to receive GH¢200 million in the 2027 national budget to strengthen its operations against illegal mining, according to the Secretariat's spokesperson, Paa Kwesi Schandorf.

In an interview with Joy News, Schandorf said President John Dramani Mahama has assured the Secretariat of the allocation, which will support personnel, logistics and enforcement activities nationwide . "There's a very elaborate plan to ensure that NAIMOS is adequately resourced," Schandorf stated. "Based on our operational strategy, that will be more than adequate to ensure that the team is well-resourced to confront some of these issues as and when they come" .

The announcement comes as NAIMOS intensifies its campaign against galamsey, with operations spanning multiple regions and targeting both river bodies and forest reserves.

Background: NAIMOS and the Anti-Galamsey Campaign

NAIMOS operates under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and was established to coordinate enforcement against illegal small-scale mining, protect water bodies and forest reserves, and support environmental recovery . The Secretariat's current Director of Operations, Colonel Kwame Sam Appiah, assumed office on June 13, 2026, and has since overseen a significant escalation in enforcement activity .

Between June 13 and September 30, 2026, NAIMOS conducted 738 operational activities covering approximately 50,662 kilometres nationwide, including reconnaissance missions, mobile and riverine patrols, raids and community engagement . During this period, the Secretariat destroyed 1,970 Changfans and 863 makeshift structures linked to illegal mining, recovered 74 firearms and 551 rounds of ammunition, and seized excavators, pumps and vehicles used in illegal operations .

Under Operation Water Shield, NAIMOS began operations along the Birim River in July before extending to the Ankobra River. Col. Appiah has announced plans to tackle two additional major river systems before the end of 2026, though he declined to name them for operational reasons . The Secretariat is also working with the Ghana Navy to deploy a dedicated riverine unit on the Ankobra to sustain patrols and deter Changfan operators from returning .

A second initiative, Operation Green Shield, is being prepared for the Atiwa Forest Reserve, following a three-stage approach: clearing and disrupting illegal activities, stabilising affected areas, and gradually transferring protection responsibilities to the Forestry Commission .

Lawful Arrests, Proportionate Force

Schandorf also addressed NAIMOS' operational conduct, stating that the task force operates within the confines of the law and focuses primarily on arresting individuals involved in illegal mining rather than engaging in aggressive confrontations with communities . He stressed that officers exercise restraint but will take "appropriate and proportionate action" if faced with imminent threats to life or physical injury during lawful duties .

Budget Context

The GH¢200 million allocation for NAIMOS was first announced by President Mahama at the 2026 Mining in Motion Forum in Accra in October, where he stated that the funds would support both NAIMOS and the Blue Water Guards . The 2027 budget is also reported to include GH¢400 million for the recruitment of additional Blue Water Guards to patrol water bodies and combat illegal mining .

NAIMOS has appealed to the media, civil society and local communities to support the campaign by providing credible information to assist ongoing operations . Col. Appiah has emphasized that the Secretariat's success will be measured by whether cleared areas remain secure, illegal activity declines, cases advance through the justice system, and environmental recovery becomes measurable .