Deputy Director of A Rocha Ghana, Daryln Bossu, has urged government officials to move beyond promises to fight galamsey.
Speaking during an interview on Thursday, March 5, he argued that public declarations alone cannot solve the persistent illegal mining crisis.
He insisted that authorities must back their commitments with practical and sustained operational support.
Bossu described the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) as the government’s main operational force against illegal mining nationwide.
However, he said the secretariat currently lacks adequate funding, equipment, and logistical support. He believes these shortages significantly weaken national efforts to curb destructive mining activities.
Bossu warned that weak operational capacity allows the destructive activities of illegal miners to continue unchecked.
He acknowledged that NAIMOS has achieved limited progress through small-scale interventions. However, he said the institution could deliver far greater results with stronger government support.
Bossu also criticised the gap between official statements and the actual deployment of resources on the ground. He said authorities often promise around-the-clock operations that rarely materialise in practice.
He argued that excessive talk continues to slow the country’s fight against illegal mining.
Bossu, therefore, called on the government to urgently equip NAIMOS to fulfil its original mandate, stressing that stronger resourcing could create a ripple effect across mining-affected regions.
Environmental advocacy organisation A Rocha Ghana has also renewed broader calls for tougher national measures.
The organisation warned that forests and water bodies remain under severe pressure.
The group reported that galamsey operations continue to degrade forest reserves and contaminate major rivers. These activities increase the long-term costs of environmental restoration efforts.
They also threaten farming, fishing, and other livelihoods in affected communities.
A Rocha Ghana believes the current government strategies have not delivered the required impact. The organisation says enforcement actions have failed to halt illegal mining activities completely.
Authorities recently revoked Legislative Instrument 2462 to strengthen environmental protections. Security personnel also operate under NAIMOS to enforce anti-galamsey operations nationwide.
However, A Rocha Ghana reports that illegal miners still encroach on protected forest reserves. Some reserves classified as red zones continue to experience active illegal mining.
The organisation believes enforcement measures have not produced a strong deterrent effect. It also questioned government policies that prevent authorities from destroying confiscated excavators.
A Rocha Ghana argues that these restrictions weaken the punitive force of anti-galamsey operations. The group believes illegal miners may quickly return after arrests or equipment seizures.
