The fight against illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, has taken a troubling turn, leaving many Ghanaians worried about the government’s ability to restore order.
On Tuesday, November 4, 2025, Alfred Thompson, a member of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Communications Team, voiced his deep frustration during a Breakfast Daily interview.
He described the ongoing struggle against galamsey as a national security threat that seems to be slipping beyond the government’s grasp.
“It’s sad that day upon day, year upon year, we come back, we sit here all the time, we talk about galamsey and government upon government, we can’t fight it. It is really becoming sad, and to me, it is a national security issue. It is a national security issue and the people who will fight it are been fighting. We are in trouble,” Thompson lamented.
His remarks followed a violent incident on Saturday, November 1, 2025, in Hwidiem. The Director of Operations of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and his team were attacked after they arrested two men for illegal mining and seized vehicles and equipment from a mining site near the town. The arrests sparked outrage, leading residents to besiege the local police station and demand the release of the suspects and impounded property.
Allegations have surfaced that Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, the Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, incited the mob and obstructed the NAIMOS task force during the confrontation. In response, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service has invited Mr. Addo to assist with ongoing investigations.
The incident has reignited debate over the effectiveness of the government’s anti-galamsey efforts, with many calling for stronger measures to protect those enforcing the law.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
