Paa Kwesi Schandorf is the Media Relations Officer for the Lands ministry
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has raised alarm over new tactics being employed by illegal miners, warning that galamsey activities have become increasingly dangerous.
According to the Ministry’s Media Relations Officer, Paa Kwesi Schandorf, illegal miners have begun setting traps to evade arrest and endanger the lives of personnel involved in the fight against illegal mining, particularly operatives of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).
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Explaining why recent operations have not resulted in significant arrests, Schandorf said the miners deliberately lure security personnel into hazardous areas.
“The reason, as of now, the operations are not marked by remarkable arrests is the fact that the illegal miners have started setting traps. So when they see the NAIMOS personnel coming, they may start running in a particular direction.
“If you are not careful and you start chasing them, eventually you are going to walk into a ditch, and most recently, we’ve recorded some. So it’s becoming trickier; it’s becoming more sophisticated,” he said on Joy Prime on Thursday, February 5, 2026.
Schandorf noted that these developments have made the fight against illegal mining increasingly challenging.
Despite the difficulties, he expressed confidence in the commitment of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, to sustain the fight against galamsey.
“The fight is becoming more and more difficult. But like I’ve already indicated, if you have a sector minister, the Honourable Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, who, regardless of the intensity of the resistance, is still at post, focused, and has the presence of mind to continue, we can hope that this year will be better,” he said.
He, however, admitted that the growing complexities pose a heavy burden on enforcement efforts.
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“But I have to be very honest, the emerging complexities are very, very burdensome, but we’ll get there again,” he added.
MAG/MA
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