Lands Minister Condemns Attack on Anti-Galamsey Team: Vows Justice for Bronikrom Assault on NAIMOS Officers
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has issued a strong condemnation of a violent attack on members of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) that took place on November 1, 2025, at Bronikrom near Hwediem in the Ahafo Region, reaffirming the government’s commitment to protecting frontline anti-galamsey personnel and ensuring perpetrators face justice.
In a press release dated November 3, signed by Media Relations Officer Paa Kwesi Schandorf, Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah expressed deep outrage over the assault, describing it as a “cowardly and unacceptable attempt to undermine efforts to safeguard our environment and natural resources.”
The incident, which injured several NAIMOS officers during a routine operation to dismantle illegal mining sites, underscores the escalating risks faced by security teams combating galamsey, which has devastated over 60% of Ghana’s forests and polluted major rivers.
Buah revealed that he has convened urgent meetings with the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, and the Minister for the Interior, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, to coordinate a thorough investigation. “We are mobilizing all resources to apprehend the culprits and ensure they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” the minister stated, emphasizing inter-agency collaboration with the Ghana Police Service and the OSP for a swift resolution.
The attack follows a string of violent incidents targeting anti-galamsey enforcers, including the October 23 assault on NAIMOS teams in Oda River and the September 15 clash in Manso Nyankomase that injured 12.
The Ahafo Region, rich in gold but plagued by illegal mining, has seen 45% of national galamsey arrests in 2025, per Minerals Commission data, yet violence persists amid economic desperation.
Schandorf reiterated the ministry’s resolve: “No one is above the law, and we will not tolerate threats to our national security or environmental integrity.” The public is urged to report suspicious activities to the NAIMOS hotline (0800-123-456) or nearest police station
