Environmental advocate and Coordinator of Eco-Conscious Citizens, Awula Serwah, has urged government to urgently and adequately resource the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) to effectively tackle illegal mining, which she describes as an escalating national security and environmental emergency.
She stressed that NAIMOS must be properly equipped, well-staffed, and empowered to act decisively—without being forced to retreat when confronted by armed illegal miners.
Her call comes as the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources begins a comprehensive review of NAIMOS operations to strengthen the national response to galamsey.
Speaking on the sidelines of an evening dialogue on Ghana’s food culture—“Gold No Be Food: How Galamsey Is Affecting Our Food System”—organised by the Ghana Food Movement at The Kitchen in Osu, Madam Serwah expressed disappointment over what she described as long-standing gaps in the country’s anti-galamsey strategy.
“It’s unfortunate. I tried calling the number that was circulated, and when I finally reached someone, they said it was a private number, not NAIMOS. We need a proper emergency line that citizens can call when excavators are moving to destroy our forests and rivers,” she said.
She criticised the absence of a functional, dedicated hotline for reporting suspected illegal mining activities, recounting her own unsuccessful attempts to reach the institution.
“Each time NAIMOS officers have to retreat, we embolden environmental terrorists. If they receive a report, they must have the men and the resources to respond swiftly and finish the work. We cannot afford to lose this fight,” she cautioned.
Madam Serwah further warned that without strong political will and coordinated security support—including from the military, navy, and air force—Ghana risks sliding into a situation where criminal networks control territories beyond state reach.
Meanwhile, Co-founder of the Ghana Food Movement, Aimee Wallin, urged the youth to intensify their advocacy and demand accountability from political leaders.
She said Ghana’s food security is under threat from two fronts: contamination of food due to polluted lands and water bodies, and the gradual loss of indigenous food knowledge and culinary heritage.
“We need to be angry. We need to hold our politicians accountable. They have the power and resources to change the system that is degrading our environment and pushing us toward imported food,” she said.
Wallin noted that the Ghana Food Movement continues to work with chefs and communities to promote indigenous crops, showcase their potential, and reconnect Ghanaians to their food heritage.
“We’re losing our food because it’s getting contaminated, but we’re also losing it because we are not preserving our food culture. There’s so much knowledge in our communities—ingredients like fonio, baobab, and moringa—that we must protect,” she added.
