Opposition Demands Immediate Legislative Backing for Anti-Illegal Mining Task Force
The Minority in Parliament has issued a passionate call for the government to urgently formalise the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) through a Legislative Instrument (L.I.), warning that Ghana’s relentless battle against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, risks collapse without a firm legal foundation.
According to the Minority, the absence of a clear legal framework governing NAIMOS could undermine its authority, weaken enforcement efforts, and create loopholes that illegal miners may exploit to continue devastating the country’s forests, rivers, and farmlands.
Addressing the media, Minority lawmakers stressed that while the establishment of NAIMOS signals government’s commitment to tackling galamsey, good intentions alone are not enough to win what they describe as a “national emergency.”
“NAIMOS must not operate on goodwill and administrative directives alone. It needs the force of law behind it,” the Minority declared, insisting that a Legislative Instrument would provide the institution with the legitimacy, powers, and operational clarity required to execute its mandate effectively.
The opposition argued that illegal mining has evolved into a sophisticated and deeply entrenched enterprise, demanding stronger institutional mechanisms backed by law. They warned that without legal protection and clearly defined powers, anti-galamsey operatives could face challenges in enforcement, prosecutions, and coordination with other state agencies.
The Minority also expressed concern over the continued destruction of major water bodies and forest reserves across the country, describing the environmental damage as alarming and potentially irreversible if decisive action is not taken immediately.
They urged the government to move swiftly to lay the necessary Legislative Instrument before Parliament, insisting that the fight against galamsey should transcend politics and become a united national mission.
“The future of our environment, our water resources, and generations yet unborn depends on the decisions we make today,” the Minority cautioned.
Their call comes amid growing public concern over the resurgence of illegal mining activities in several parts of the country despite intensified operations by security agencies and anti-galamsey task forces.
As pressure mounts on government to deliver lasting solutions, the Minority maintains that formalising NAIMOS through legislation could be the critical step needed to transform the anti-galamsey campaign from a series of operations into a sustained and legally empowered national crusade.
Battle for Ghana’s Environment Intensifies
With rivers turning brown, forests disappearing, and communities raising fresh concerns about the environmental impact of illegal mining, the demand for a legally empowered NAIMOS is likely to fuel renewed debate over the country’s anti-galamsey strategy.
Whether government acts on the Minority’s proposal could determine the next chapter in Ghana’s high-stakes fight to reclaim its natural resources from the grip of illegal mining.
