Manso Chief Urges Probe into NAIMOS Operations

The Chief of Manso Keneago, Nana Obeng Mensah Ababio II, has called on the Ghanaian government to investigate the operations of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS). He accuses the anti-galamsey task force of unfairly targeting small-scale miners while sparing influential individuals behind illegal mining activities. In a video, the traditional ruler denied supporting illegal mining, stating his engagements with state institutions aimed to address environmental degradation and reclaim lands destroyed by mining.

Nana Ababio II challenged NAIMOS officials to deny his claim that he had previously engaged the secretariat to arrest individuals suspected of illegal mining. He insisted that he supported the operation and even personally paid for a lowbed used during an operation. The chief also claimed he had not received any share of the GH¢380,000 taken from those involved. He urged NAIMOS to establish whether he had received any portion of the alleged GH¢3.8 billion or whether any of the money had been given to him.

The dispute centers around a forest reserve, with Nana Ababio II alleging that some individuals are undertaking mining activities in the area. He suggested that his opposition to the activities had made him a target. According to the chief, he had dispatched a delegation to the forest to engage the alleged miners, but they challenged his authority over the disputed territory. He maintained that the miners were not the right people to determine the boundaries between Manso Keneago and Nkawie.

Nana Ababio II alleged that when NAIMOS personnel arrived in the area, he urged them to proceed to the forest reserves where the mining activities were taking place. However, he claimed that soldiers at Nkawie arrested the NAIMOS personnel but released them later that same day. The circumstances surrounding the alleged arrest and release could not be independently established.

The chief defended his position on illegal mining, stating that he had engaged the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to facilitate reclamation activities. He also brought representatives of the Minerals Commission and the Lands Commission to help develop an approach to mining and address environmental consequences. Nana Ababio II urged district authorities to chart a sustainable course to prevent further environmental destruction and protect residents from the dangers posed by abandoned mining pits.

Nana Ababio II warned that unfilled mining pits could become death traps, particularly during heavy rainfall. He also alleged that his opposition to mining activities in the forest had resulted in threats to his life, with some individuals tagging him for allegedly obstructing their operations. The chief criticised the selective nature of NAIMOS operations, arguing that the task force targeted young people at mining sites while leaving financiers and influential individuals untouched.

The traditional ruler appealed to the government to investigate the incident and the circumstances surrounding NAIMOS operations in the area. He maintained that the fight against illegal mining would yield meaningful results only if enforcement efforts targeted not just those found at mining sites but also the individuals financing and organising the activities.

Key points

• The Chief of Manso Keneago demands an investigation into NAIMOS operations.
• The chief accuses NAIMOS of targeting small-scale miners while sparing influential individuals.
• The dispute centers around a forest reserve where mining activities are allegedly taking place.