NAIMOS doing its best in galamsey fight, but MMDCEs must step up – Erastus Asare Donkor

JoyNews Environmental Journalist, Erastus Asare Donkor, says the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) is making commendable efforts in the fight against illegal mining but believes more commitment from local government officials is needed to end the menace.

He says the efforts of the anti-illegal mining task force could yield better results if Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in affected areas demonstrate greater commitment to tackling the activities of illegal miners.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, Mr Asare Donkor, who regularly follows the field operations of NAIMOS personnel, said the task force was doing its best to confront illegal mining activities.

"If you talk about some other places, yes, we have made some gains. NAIMOS is on the ground; they are doing their best. I have been working with them, fantastic, patriotic soldiers who are trying to help," he said.

However, he argued that the responsibility for addressing the menace should not rest solely on NAIMOS, insisting that MMDCEs must also play an active role in protecting their jurisdictions.

"But let me make this point: the DCEs, the MCEs are chairmen of the District and Municipal Security Councils; they know every nook and cranny of the local area. If they are not put to task to police their own areas, then we can send NAIMOS on a wild goose chase, and after they have left, the place will come back to zero as we are seeing it," he said.

He further called on the President to hold the MMDCEs accountable for the persistence of illegal mining in their respective areas, warning that without such accountability, efforts to end galamsey would remain limited.

"Until the President starts holding his own appointees to account, hold them responsible for their own jurisdictions; if we do not do that, then we are fighting a wild goose chase, and we will come to nothing," the journalist added.