The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey (CAGG) has disputed the government’s own assessment of its fight against illegal mining, accusing state institutions of applying enforcement unevenly across regions, and raising unverified allegations of corruption within the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).
The claims were made at a press briefing in Accra, convened by CAGG convener, Engineer Kenneth Ashigbey, in response to an “Accountability Series” presentation delivered on 15th July 2026 by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah.
The Ministry’s presentation reportedly concluded that “the era of impunity is over.”
CAGG rejected this outright, arguing conditions in several regions contradict it.CAGG credited government with genuine progress on some fronts, notably Cabinet’s 24th June 2026 decision to revoke Executive Instrument E.I. 144, as amended by E.I. 234, which had removed legal protection from parts of the Achimota Forest Reserve.
It also welcomed the Attorney-General’s decision to drop charges against a group it called the “Atronsu 5”, without elaborating on the case.
Allegations of selective enforcement by region
The core of CAGG’s grievance is geographic unevenness in enforcement. The Coalition pointed to the Eastern Region, including the Apedwa Junction-Anyinam-Osino corridor and the area around Kyebi, where it said illegal miners recently clashed with a NAIMOS team, as evidence of continuing lawlessness, close to the seat of government. It asked directly whether “the perception of selective enforcement” is true.
The Coalition cited further sites as evidence of unresolved risk. It said the Atewa Range Forest Reserve, a water source it describes as serving more than five million Ghanaians, remains under pressure from illegal miners, as does Cape Three Points, given its proximity to Ghana’s first Marine Protected Area.
It said the Forestry Commission staff had to demobilise an illegally operating excavator in the Afao Hills Forest, Bibiani Forest District, the Friday before the briefing.
It alleged unchecked mining near Bamboi and Tinga, within the Bui Hydroelectric Dam catchment.
According to CAGG, flooding linked to galamsey in Samreboi had displaced more than 1,000 people.
Near Lake Bosomtwe, CAGG named Richard Antwi, “known to the Ashanti Regional Minister”, an allegation by the Coalition, not a finding by The Chronicle or law enforcement and Antwi has not been contacted for comment.
In the Ahwiren wetlands, near Bekwai, exposed by journalist Erastus Asare, CAGG alleged the District Chief Executive is “either complicit or incompetent” and said the operator’s claimof affiliation with “rCOMSDEP” has been denied by leadership.
By contrast, CAGG praised the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council, which it said had directed some district assemblies to suspend excavator movement for a month, for enforcement and reclamation.
CAGG acknowledged that NAIMOS has carried out more than 200 operations, a figure it said is “not in dispute.”
But it said it had received unverified community reports of selective enforcement, and more seriously, that confiscated equipment is being returned to operators for payment, citing an alleged GH₵15,000 fee to reclaim seized motorbikes. It called on NAIMOS to address the allegation and publish its complaints record.
CAGG also said no galamsey “kingpins” have been prosecuted in 19 months, beyond one named case, despite President Mahama’s 2024 pledge and acknowledgement of party involvement.
It renewed calls for safeguards in the pending Minerals and Mining Act revision, publication of the Constitutional Review Committee report and a halt to fuel sales to illegal operators, alleging the National Petroleum Authority has not acted, despite prior assurances.
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