The Deputy Director of Operations at the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Satekla, has expressed concerns over interference from influential individuals undermining their mandate.

While acknowledging that every institution faces challenges, he stated that for NAIMOS, their main challenge is interference.

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According to him, interference from politicians, chiefs, and other high-profile individuals poses serious challenges to the effective execution of their duties in combating illegal mining, known as galamsey.

“Every institution has challenges, and we are no exception. One of our key challenges is interference from influential people. We encounter this from politicians, chiefs, and other stakeholders in areas where we operate, and it is a big problem that must be addressed. Another critical challenge is logistics,” he is quoted to have said by a citinewsroom.com report on Monday, December 8, 2025.

Lt. Col. Satekla highlighted this during a stakeholder meeting in Sekondi on Sunday, December 7, 2025, where he reaffirmed their commitment and determination to combat galamsey.

Briefing 14 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in the Western Region, along with two Regional Police Commanders, Lt. Col. Satekla emphasized that illegal mining hotspots require strict enforcement and full cooperation from local authorities to sustain effective 'no-go' zones.

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On the other hand, Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson reassured the public of the government’s commitment to eliminating illegal mining and urged all MMDCEs to support President John Dramani Mahama’s campaign against galamsey.

MAG/EB

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