Africa-Press – Ghana. HELP Foundation Africa has called on the Government to adopt a national security-led approach to end the increasing presence of armed groups at illegal mining sites, following recent attacks on environmental officials and journalists.
The organisation said illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, had evolved into a coordinated network of armed operators whose activities posed a threat to state authority, environmental protection, and public safety.
The call follows incidents in which field operatives of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), personnel of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and journalists were attacked while conducting operations at mining sites.
In a statement signed by Mr Kyei Kwadwo Yamoah, Executive Director of HELP Foundation Africa, the organisation said the attacks showed that illegal mining had intensified beyond an environmental infraction.
“What we are facing now is no longer just an environmental violation; it is organized armed crime,” it said.
“These groups are well-financed and politically shielded, and their activities undermine national stability and the safety of officers and journalists,” the statement added.
Illegal mining remains a major environmental challenge in Ghana, with forest reserves, river bodies, and farmlands affected.
Successive governments have launched joint security operations to halt the practice, but the trade continues, often involving sophisticated equipment and networks.
In recent months, officials enforcing mining regulations have reported violent resistance, including the assault of a NAIMOS commander and attacks on EPA and media teams at mining sites.
HELP Foundation Africa called for the Ministry of National Security to coordinate anti-galamsey efforts and deploy intelligence-led security operations targeted at financiers, logistics suppliers, and political actors behind illegal mining networks.
The organisation further recommended stronger collaboration between the Ghana Armed Forces, Police Service, and District Security Councils to secure high-risk mining zones and provide escorts for EPA and forestry officers during enforcement.
It also urged the Attorney-General, Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Financial Intelligence Centre, and Bank of Ghana to trace, investigate, and confiscate illicit proceeds used to fund illegal mining operations.
The Foundation proposed that Parliament considered amendments to strengthen sanctions in the Minerals and Mining Act and allow for faster prosecution through specialised environmental courts.
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