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El Samuels; MBN360 News
The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey (GCAG) has strongly condemned the recent violent attack on officers of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Squad (NAIMOS) and allied security personnel. The attack occurred while the operatives were conducting lawful operations to protect the environment and public interest.
The Coalition views any aggression against NAIMOS officers as “aggression against the State and the collective future of Ghanaian citizens”. GCAG emphasized that NAIMOS officers operate under a constitutional mandate to protect the Republic and that their efforts are crucial in combating the catastrophic ecological and socio-economic harm caused by illegal mining.
GCAG reserved its sharpest criticism for the reported political interference in the enforcement process, particularly the alleged involvement of a sitting Member of Parliament in mobilizing community members to obstruct and physically confront state officials. The Coalition described this as a “grave affront” to national security, democratic governance, and the rule of law.
The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey has called for urgent and coordinated state action, directing a set of demands to the Office of the President and the Parliament of Ghana. These demands include:
- Directing an independent investigation into the attack
- Publicly reaffirming zero tolerance for political interference
- Prosecuting perpetrators and warning that political status does not confer immunity
- Strengthening security cover and logistics for NAIMOS and other enforcement units
- Initiating an internal disciplinary and ethics inquiry into the alleged conduct of the Member of Parliament
- Adopting a bipartisan resolution condemning attacks on enforcement officers and affirming support for NAIMOS operations.
GCAG stressed that mobilizing citizens to shield criminal mining operations is not political representation, but rather “complicity in environmental destruction, economic sabotage, and the erosion of lawful authority”. The Coalition urged all political officeholders to uphold their oath to defend the Constitution and desist from any conduct that enables galamsey networks.
